World Cup 2018 and 2022: Site Selection

[Keystone Phil]

And on the possibility of bidding for the 2026 Cup: “All of us that have been involved in this for quite some time want to sit back, not very long, but at least until the end of the night before we think what else we might do in the future.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/tag/_/name/2026-world-cup

Sounds like Gulati, after a good night's sleep, is ready to move on to 2026. 

[Јas]

Quite aside from any off-pitch issues, it also means this gang automatically get one of the thirty-two spots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLvoT6TlRec&feature=related

I'm betting that between now and then the Qatari Football Association take advice from the Qatari Olympic Committee on how to put together a team capable of competing.

[King]

Afghanistan and North Korea 2026 and 2030!

[Platypus]

Gutted. Australia played the game fairly, cleanly and soberly. We had a strong bid, we're a 'new frontier', the timing was right, England didn't win 2018 so we had no anglospheric hangover...and we got one vote.

Neither Russia nor Qatar qualified for 2010...so I guess we can say this isn't about the football pedigree, either.

Russia isn't the country I would pick but it is a reasonable choice...Manama 2022 will be a month of fail though. I would be happy to see a broader Middle East bid, maybe involving, say, Qatar along with Bahrain and the UAE; or Turkey; or maybe even a North African bid. Hell, even Iran. But Qatar? What a joke.

The good news for the Americans is that you're almost certainly guaranteed 2026 now.

[Јas]

Qatar says it would allow Israel take part - eurosport

[Јas]

Manama 2022 will be a month of fail though.

*cough* Doha *cough*

[Platypus]

Manama 2022 will be a month of fail though.

*cough* Doha *cough*

Oops. Same diff.

[King]

But not quite as badly as Australia did...

2022 Bids	Rd1	Rd2	Rd3	Rd4
Qatar	11	10	11	14
USA	3	5	6	8
South Korea	4	5	5	-
Japan	3	2	-	-
Australia	1	-	-	-

The way this vote went down is the biggest flag IMO.  Russia's vote seemed pretty natural.

If Qatar were to win it as an underdog, it would have more likely to have happened with secondary votes (US wins the first couple of rounds and then loses to Qatar on final ballot).  This tiny country started out with a huge block against all favorites? And then went down by a vote and then for some reason picked up the Japan support instead of the Koreans?  lulz

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The moment I heard about the 'demountable' stadia being given to developing countries... this was over.

[Keystone Phil]

I want to know why the hell South Korea did so well. Another eye roll worthy fact from yesterday.

[MaxQue]

I want to know why the hell South Korea did so well. Another eye roll worthy fact from yesterday.

Money.

[Landslide Lyndon]

I want to know why the hell South Korea did so well. Another eye roll worthy fact from yesterday.

A show of support from the free world in their struggle with evil.

[Keystone Phil]

World Cup Mars 2026

[Landslide Lyndon]

World Cup Mars 2026

Joking aside, Uruguay will make a bid for the centennial World Cup in 2030.

[King]

lol this Qatar thing still makes me lol

IMO, it would be perfectly reasonable for any nation to boycott these games.  Summer temperatures can peak at 120ºF in Qatar and their plans for stadiums is open roof.  The safety of the players as well as the quality of the game in such conditions is immediately in jeopardy.

The spectators would most likely be bourgeoisie because of the makeup of the country as well as the tremendous cost of building the World Cup infrastructure in a country that has none.  There would be little enthusiasm for outcomes as attending the game would be nothing more than status symbol.  I'd take listening to vuvuzelas any day over pure apathy.

Who knows? Maybe us Americans will finally get off our asses, cut down the fossil fuel consumption, and bankrupt Qatar by the time 2022 rolls around.  Nah, that'd be asking too much.

[Keystone Phil]

World Cup Mars 2026

Joking aside, Uruguay will make a bid for the centennial World Cup in 2030.

I figured they would but I doubt they'll get it on their own. I was thinking a joint bid with Argentina. It would work out perfectly: South America (Uruguay specifically) will definitely want the centennial tournament, gladly taking a pass on 2026 (not that they'd be favored for it anyway) which would allow a North American exclusive bid process. I could see a NAFTA showdown.  

It would also be perfect because it would allow Italy to host their own centennial in 2034.    Here's hoping they get their act together over the next few years so they can host Euro 2020. It would be a perfect set up to a World Cup bid.

By the way, it looks like that Uruguay 2030 idea already has its own movement - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguay_2030 - and it looks like there was already a request for a joint bid. How about that. 

[Hash]

FIFA's Requirements for hosting World Cups (2010 edition)
a. be a dictatorship
b. suck at the game
c. total disregard for human rights
d. have tons of cash to pay Blatter and his cronies

[Platypus]

FIFA's Requirements for hosting World Cups (2010 edition)
a. be a dictatorship
b. suck at the game
c. total disregard for human rights
d. have tons of cash to pay Blatter and his cronies

Actually, Blatter is rumoured to have voted for England and the USA.

[minionofmidas]

Manama 2022 will be a month of fail though.

*cough* Doha *cough*

Oops. Same diff.

Not really. Manama has quite the pretty Old Town, actually.

Where you see next to no Arabs.

But not quite as badly as Australia did...

2022 Bids	Rd1	Rd2	Rd3	Rd4
Qatar	11	10	11	14
USA	3	5	6	8
South Korea	4	5	5	-
Japan	3	2	-	-
Australia	1	-	-	-

The way this vote went down is the biggest flag IMO.  Russia's vote seemed pretty natural.

If Qatar were to win it as an underdog, it would have more likely to have happened with secondary votes (US wins the first couple of rounds and then loses to Qatar on final ballot).  This tiny country started out with a huge block against all favorites? And then went down by a vote and then for some reason picked up the Japan support instead of the Koreans?  lulz

They had bought the South American vote - this was out in public, actually. A lot of the other delegates probaby voted ABQ... exactly as most people on here would have done. That much makes perfect sense. And then there's probably some "at least it's Asia" voters from among Japan's Korea's supporters.

(Oh, and the US picked up Japan's support. Which makes sense, though only if the voters were either from Japan itself or outside of Asia altogether.)

[Edu]

Oh man, i would kill for another world cup here in Argentina, pity it's in 20 years (if we even get selected )

[Keystone Phil]

FIFA's Requirements for hosting World Cups (2010 edition)
a. be a dictatorship
b. suck at the game
c. total disregard for human rights
d. have tons of cash to pay Blatter and his cronies

Actually, Blatter is rumoured to have voted for England and the USA.

Blatter can't vote unless there is a tie.

Oh man, i would kill for another world cup here in Argentina, pity it's in 20 years (if we even get selected )

You'll get it because it's the centennial and Uruguay won't host on its own. Just don't try to bid in 2026. 

[minionofmidas]

FIFA's Requirements for hosting World Cups (2010 edition)
a. be a dictatorship
b. suck at the game
c. total disregard for human rights
d. have tons of cash to pay Blatter and his cronies

Actually, Blatter is rumoured to have voted for England and the USA.

Blatter can't vote unless there is a tie.

IIRC he gets to vote twice in case of a tie.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/03/world-cup-2018-england-lucky-escapes

The best one is the required 'Anti-money-laundering legislation carve-out'. Srsly.

[Lief 🗽]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/03/world-cup-2018-england-lucky-escapes

The best one is the required 'Anti-money-laundering legislation carve-out'. Srsly.

Huh. I have a hard time seeing the United States congress agree to most of those things.

[Platypus]

FIFA's Requirements for hosting World Cups (2010 edition)
a. be a dictatorship
b. suck at the game
c. total disregard for human rights
d. have tons of cash to pay Blatter and his cronies

Actually, Blatter is rumoured to have voted for England and the USA.

Blatter can't vote unless there is a tie.

IIRC he gets to vote twice in case of a tie.

Indeed.