FIFA are to consider allowing artificial pitches to be used for 2006 World Cup qualifiers, president Sepp Blatter said on Saturday.

Speaking at the Copa America, Blatter said that the matter would be studied at the next meeting of the International Board, the committee which decides on changes in the rules of the game, in October.

He said that all matches at the 2006 finals in Germany would be held on natural pitches.

"This is not a revolution, it's just part of the normal evolution of football," he told reporters.

"CONCACAF has been playing games on artificial pitches with a lot of success and without problems.

"Nowadays, artificial turf has practically the same structure as the natural variety."