Japan have pulled out of the race to host the 2018 World Cup finals - suggesting Fifa have already decided they want a European nation to hold the tournament.

The Japanese Football Association (JFA) said they did not wish to be considered for the 2018 tournament, and were instead focusing their efforts on a bid to host the 2022 event. 

England are joined by Australia, Russia and the United States in bidding for both tournaments, as well as join bids from Belgium/Holland and Spain/Portugal.

That would leave England and the two joint bids as the strongest contenders. With this year's World Cup in South Africa and the 2014 tournament in Brazil, Fifa apparently want to ensure a return to Europe for what would be the first time in 12 years - since the 2006 finals in Germany.

Qatar and South Korea are bidding alongside Japan solely for the 2022 tournament. Fifa will name the hosts for both tournaments in December. One of these three, along with the United States and Australia, would be considered favourites to hold it.

Moroaki Inukai, president of the JFA, said this was a sensible re-allocation of his association's resources.

"It looks as if after all Fifa wants to take the World Cup back to Europe in 2018," he said.

"We were told by president [Sepp] Blatter that European countries would be involved in a fierce tussle for 2018 and that aiming for 2022 would the wisest choice."