The women's football World Cup, which was due to be staged in China from September 23, must be played in another country because of the outbreak of SARS there, FIFA said on Saturday.

World football's governing body said in a statement that its executive committee took the decision after examining advice from its medical committee during a meeting here.

Australia and the United States have shown an interest in staging the event, the statement added.

However FIFA's Executive Committee announced that the 2007 women's World Cup would be awarded to China.