China will not bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament, according to the Chinese Football Association (CFA) on Monday.

Monday is the deadline set by FIFA when any bidders should inform the world soccer governing body of their intention to bid, and the CFA vice president Nan Yong told the press that China had opted not to bid.

"We will not bid the World Cup," Nan said, but declined to deliberate on the reasons.

"The Chinese Football Association reckoned it a mission impossible for China to bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, but they will bid for the prestigious tournament when the conditions are mature," a close source to the CFA told Xinhua.

England, Australia, Qatar, the United States, Japan and Indonesia have declared an interest ahead of Monday's deadline.

(Xinhua News Agency Feburary 3, 2009)