After a European nation won the right to host the World Cup for the second time in three tournaments, Uefa president Lennart Johansson has stated that the competition should now go to each continent in turn.

And Johansson suggested that he would back an African nation to host the World Cup in 2010.

"The experience of the campaign to host 2006 has confirmed my belief in the need for a rotation system to be introduced for future competitions," said Johansson.

"We must act now to take away the unnecessary tension and division caused by the current system.

I would strongly favour European support for an African candidate for the 2010 competition

Lennart Johannson

"If we can move forward on this basis I would strongly favour European support for an African candidate for the 2010 competition," he concluded.

Of the 24 members of Fifa's Executive Committee who are involved in the voting process, eight come from Uefa, giving any European bidder a very strong hand.

No other continent has more than four members on the Committee. But South Africa were still expected to win the vote for 2006, largely because no African country had ever been given the nomination.

However it now looks certain that the 2010 tournament will go to an African nation.