HIROSHIMA —

Hiroshima said Monday it will not be putting itself forward as a candidate to stage matches if Japan succeeds in hosting either the 2018 or 2022 World Cups. Hiroshima told the Japan Football Association the same day it was ruling itself out to focus on plans to co-host the 2020 Summer Olympics with Nagasaki.
   
Hiroshima wanted its 50,000 capacity Big Arch to hold matches at the 2002 World Cup that Japan co-hosted with South Korea but was eliminated from the running because its stands are uncovered. Tokyo and Toyota in Aichi Prefecture are pushing ahead with procedures to become candidates to stage matches in 2018 or 2022. Tokyo is considering using National Stadium and Ajinomoto Stadium while Toyota would stage game at Toyota Stadium.
   
Sapporo, Ibaraki Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Yokohama, Niigata Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, Osaka, Kobe and Oita Prefecture, which all have existing stadiums, are hopeful of becoming candidates but Miyagi Prefecture, which hosted matches in 2002, appears less interested.
   

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