Thread: FIFA selects world cup hosts for 2018 and 2022

Yeah Qatar had me scratching my head as well.

they just wanted to bring it to the middle east for the first time, which is understandable, but when you consider all the other factors, qatar is a terrible choice. australia would have been much better (and obviously i would have preferred it here).

The Middle East definitely deserves its own turn at it, but I'm not sure that Qatar is the right pick for it...in fact, I was against it.

It's a very small nation with only one major city. They'll have to construct everything within a small nation where it makes little sense to have multiple new stadia being constructed within a taxi ride of each other. That's expensive and doesn't make for a very attractive tour, which is the overall side benefit of hosting the tournament for visitors and viewers...a host country with many places to see, etc. I mean, why not just host it in Samoa or Andorra or maybe just give the Pope a call if it's going to get hosted by sites that small? It's also going to be scotching hot there and even with air conditioned stadia as promised, it's going to be a furnace. That part is alone is not an overriding factor that the Middle East gets its turn, but mixing that with Qatar as the location, it's a very questionable move and FIFA should have waited for someone else to pull it off or at least done something like they did in 2002 where Japan and South Korea co-hosted it where regional countries could also host some of the matches.

The US certainly has the built-in advantages such as already made qualified superb stadia, a large nation with plenty of scenic and different styled choices, etc. But one of the biggest is the American sports fan and American demographics. Even back in 1994 when the sport first got real starting infant legs in the US insofar as international and professional soccer interest, Americans packed the super sized stadia out of interest in the events. Even all the typical 'minnow' matches sold out in super sized stadia and even if they were teams already exiting from the first round. Since then, it would now be real and educated attendance besides just wanting to be part of the event given the sport's advancements in the US.

It's out of the box thinking, but it's very possible that FIFA did this in order to show the Middle East that its rabid interest in soccer is equally appreciated and is viewed fairly, but with an unmentioned reservation that Qatar possibly can't pull it off and will withdraw later. That's happened beforehand. If that happens, then the US will get it by default because it's already able to do it and do it exceptionally well.

If I were FIFA, though, I'd consider the US for other major events in the meanwhile. It may take some rule waivers and convincing, but if the European Cup was hosted in the US for an interesting break from the routine, I'll bet that would be a real break and win for the tournament. Those matches would sell out like wildfire, even the 'minnow' matches with US spectator interest whereas with 'minnow' matches and already eliminated team first round matches in Europe, such matches more often go without a sellout and/or lopsided fan bases against the 'minnow' team. European fans would get the holiday experience of going to the US for matches instead of hanging around Europe where they reside and regularly travel, getting two birds in one stone and a fantastic time. It would also attract other viewers from Latin America and elsewhere because when the US hosts something big, it gets the big attention and interest given the nation's abilities, attractions, dynamics and demographics. It would also give the US a shot in the arm given their international matches are in the comparatively weak CONCACAF division compared to other global divisions like UEFA (Europe) and CONMEBOL (South America) where most competitors against the US are weak by comparison except Mexico, etc. Obviously having the US host the Copa América would also be a good thing and certainly more geographically matching where it has been invited beforehand to participate as a team. The Confederations Cup is another one that actually needs no geographic waivers, etc.

It's all politics. The atmosphere here in Australia is disappointment. Whilst we would have liked to have gotten the 22 Cup, I thought the US would. It would have been a fantastic opportunity for FIFA to take the world's biggest game into the world's largest media and advertising market, which has limited interest in soccer - ie a golden opportunity to generate huge interest in a relatively untapped - and incredibly rich - market, which would equal big revenue dollars!!

There is a lot of media speculation down under today that Qatar thought Australia was one of its biggest threats, and so ensured we would lose in the first round, thus the votes which would have gone to us would then go to Qatar ahead of the US. Given the corruption the emanates around FIFA I guess the US and Australian govts should have paid/paid more to the voting members.

Did anyone seriously factor in the physical logistics of an event the size and scale of the World Cup being held in the Mid-East? The weather for one, but what about the massive tourist influx? What happens when the pommy (English) soccer fans do their usual. I hope western embassies are fully stocked, as I expect massive arrests for things which wouldn't matter in the west. The flip side is maybe this will lead to an easing of fundamentalist Islam is the Mid-East in order to accommodate the millions of sports mad tourists flocking in! I wonder if Qatar will lift their ban on alcohol?

Originally Posted by noahath

It's all politics. The atmosphere here in Australia is disappointment. Whilst we would have liked to have gotten the 22 Cup, I thought the US would. It would have been a fantastic opportunity for FIFA to take the world's biggest game into the world's largest media and advertising market, which has limited interest in soccer - ie a golden opportunity to generate huge interest in a relatively untapped - and incredibly rich - market, which would equal big revenue dollars!!

There is a lot of media speculation down under today that Qatar thought Australia was one of its biggest threats, and so ensured we would lose in the first round, thus the votes which would have gone to us would then go to Qatar ahead of the US. Given the corruption the emanates around FIFA I guess the US and Australian govts should have paid/paid more to the voting members.

Did anyone seriously factor in the physical logistics of an event the size and scale of the World Cup being held in the Mid-East? The weather for one, but what about the massive tourist influx? What happens when the pommy (English) soccer fans do their usual. I hope western embassies are fully stocked, as I expect massive arrests for things which wouldn't matter in the west. The flip side is maybe this will lead to an easing of fundamentalist Islam is the Mid-East in order to accommodate the millions of sports mad tourists flocking in! I wonder if Qatar will lift their ban on alcohol?

Oz definitely was a very attractive package given its size and demographics, it's similar rising power and interest in international soccer, etc. I think if it tried the Japan/South Korea package with the Kiwis that double the attractiveness of the appeal for the same reasons, it really would have been much harder to go for Qatar.

Indeed, politics has plenty to do with it..and naturally money. The Middle East's long passion for soccer is certainly the most meritorious reason and the region is due its day in the sun, pardon the pun. Additional clever politics by Qatar was stating its intention to relocate the stadia they'll build in other poorer nations that can't afford high quality new stadia besides the major money on the table in that region.

As host, I revert to what I said above about the concerns I have with this particular setup. If the package was instead something regional like 2002 such as hosting some matches in the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, that would make it much more appealing logistically IMO. It's something I'd like to see the smaller nations do for themselves, such as possibly someday doing a Central American package World Cup if they can get their law and order and finances together enough, etc. That way, 'minnow' state regions can get into the action too and deliver an appealing package. Unquestionably IMO, security is also going to be a prime requirement to keep out AQ and other fanatics if they're still active by 2022. It's going to have to strike a reasonable balance with other cultures insofar as visiting fan treatment vis-a-vis its moderate but still Islam influenced laws, and most certainly suspend its current ban on Israeli citizens travelling there if it still exists by then for the purposes of attending the tournament and enjoying their stay like any other fan tourist.

In 2004, South Africa was awarded the WC, the locals started shouting: "the money is coming!". But did it really come? Did the Germans '06 or Amercians 94' get that "economic bonanza"?

Hosting a WC does NOT make a place rich at all. Hosting it only makes you happy, and the ME needs it