China's chances of hosting the soccer World Cup in 2030 have been boosted by a proposed new FIFA text, which could allow a continent to skip just one World Cup before hosting the tournament again, a report by the Associated Press suggests.

Under the existing rule, a continent must let two tournaments pass before it can host the World Cup again. As Qatar – which is part of the Asian Football Confederation - will host the 2022 World Cup, the earliest tournament that China could bid for is in 2034.

However, if the amendment to the governing body's rule book is approved at the 67th FIFA Congress in Manama, Bahrain on May 11, China could already be a candidate city for 2030, just eight years after Qatar.

"In principle … the event shall not be awarded to members of the confederations that hosted the two previous editions," the proposed text says. But it adds that the FIFA Council "may decide otherwise" under certain circumstances.

Approving this change would free up China to bid for the 100th anniversary World Cup. 2030 is also the final year of a top-tier sponsorship deal between FIFA and Chinese property developer and cinema chain operator Wanda Group.

"As a partner of FIFA, Wanda will be better placed to play a role in the bidding process to host major football events such as the World Cup," Wanda Chairman Wang Jianlin said last year.

The first time that soccer's top event was held in Asia was in 2002, when South Korea and Japan co-hosted. It is also the only time so far that China has qualified for the final stage of the tournament.

For 2030, China could face competition from Argentina and Uruguay, which are expected to launch a joint bid to host the World Cup, a century after the first tournament was played in Uruguay. But although not a traditional soccer power, China’s economic strength and experience hosting other major sports events, such as the Olympics, could tilt things in its favor.