England is ready to host the 2022 World Cup if it is stripped from Qatar in the wake of allegations of corruption and bribery in FIFA, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has said.
Mr Whittingdale said the country has the facilities and mounted an impressive, if unsuccessful, bid to host the 2018 World Cup, and so could host the 2022 event if asked by the organisation.
He spoke as MPs asked whether England could step in to host the World Cup if allegations that the bid process for the Qatar tournament was corrupt are found to be true.
Swiss authorities are investigating the bidding processes for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Mr Whittingdale backed FA chairman Greg Dyke's observation that since the 2018 World Cup is being hosted by Russia, it may be unlikely that another European nation would be granted the 2022 event.
But he said England "obviously" has the facilities to host the world's biggest football tournament, last held in the country in 1966.
Meanwhile, David Beckham has described the corruption scandal as "despicable, unacceptable and awful".
His comments come as the organisation's former executive committee member Chuck Blazer admitted taking bribes in relation to the awarding of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups.
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