Japan has been encouraged to bid for the 2019 Women's World Cup, with FIFA President Sepp Blatter seeing no reason why the country can't stage that and the Rugby World Cup in the same year.
''Japan would be a good candidate,'' Blatter said at a news conference on Friday. ''They are a little bit afraid because they have the Rugby World Cup in the same year but the sports are totally different.''
The Rugby World Cup will be played in September-October, and Blatter said Japan could hold the women's tournament beforehand.
Japan won the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany. Canada will host the 2015 tournament.
Blatter was in Tokyo for Saturday's final of the Under-20 Women's World Cup between the United States and Germany.
Uzbekistan was originally scheduled to host the U20 tournament, but FIFA stripped it of hosting rights because of ''logistical and technical issues,'' and Japan stepped in only six months before the start of the tournament.
Blatter said Japan's successful staging of the U20 tournament proves it would be a good host for the 2019 event.
''You have to play somewhere where women's football is established,'' Blatter said. ''Otherwise, it will not be a big success.''
