The Chinese enjoyed a successful hosting to this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, but Blatter believes that more efforts are required to win the honor of hosting the world's top competition.

"Back in April, at the draw for the Olympic football tournament, the Chinese already expressed an accordant wish," said Blatter.

"That needs time. China are used to working to a plan. But in football they don't work to a plan. Now one has to start from the bottom, from the under-17s to the under-23s.

"The Chinese would like the World Cup, but that will not happen before 2022."

Trust South Africa

Meanwhile, the FIFA chief has no doubts over South Africa's capability to host the 2010 World Cup, amid security concerns and stadium construction costs.

"I can tell you that they are able to organize the World Cup, they will do it, there is a movement to say 'trust South Africa to organize the World Cup, trust them.'," added Blatter.

"When you speak about security, you give me one country in the world where security is at 100 per cent sure? It is not possible.

"We know that in South Africa that it's not the best, but if you know where the devil is then you know also how to take measures against that.

"The legacy of this World Cup should be that it's not only about South Africa football being better identified throughout the world, but the legacy should also be that the republic of South Africa is a stable and secure country and football would have given something exceptional not only to the African continent but to this country."

Official government statistics in South Africa indicate that at least 50 murders are committed every day, raising the annual murder rate to 19,000.