KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Qatari Mohamed bin Hammam, the head of the Asian football confederation, announced his candidacy Friday to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

Bin Hammam, 61, recently helped bring the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar, and is the only challenger to step up to contend Blatter's 13-year reign.

FIFA has had only eight presidents in its 111-year history, all but one from a European nation. Brazilian Joao Havelange preceded Blatter, and held the post from 1974-98.