World Cup 2018 and 2022: Site Selection

[Keystone Phil]

Blatter suggests that Iran could help co-host in 2022 - http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4563/main/2013/11/09/4394230/iran-could-help-qatar-host-2022-world-cup-blatter

[Keystone Phil]

Can it just be hosted anywhere else? If it has to be in the AFC then just give it to the Australians or something?

Aside from the brutal match times (which actually would be a pretty big deal unless I went to Australia), yeah, I'd prefer that. Not that it matters. FIFA is clearly not just sticking with Qatar but doubling down on the decision.

[Keystone Phil]

Because they just had to have another "history" moment - World Cup will be held in November-December - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2535786/Its-winter-World-Cup-FIFA-confirm-2022-tournament-Qatar-played-November-January.html

Supposedly an official FIFA statement won't be made until after this year's tournament.

[Keystone Phil]

The choice of Qatar was one of the most disgusting travesties in the history of sports, for a myriad of reasons.

One of which being that the U.S. was denied the right to host when we unquestionably deserve it.

[Keystone Phil]

Also the AFC would go batsh**t if it was stripped from Qatar, and doubly batsh**t if it was taken outside of Western Asia and triply batsh**t if it was taken outside of the AFC.

Who cares? Literally one AFC member has made it to a World Cup semifinal, and they were hosting!

"...and they were hosting/cheating!" is what you meant.

Sadly, this won't be reversed. Listen, we all know the U.S. is the country that deserves to host the 2022 tournament but it just isn't going to happen at this point.

[Keystone Phil]

Also the AFC would go batsh**t if it was stripped from Qatar, and doubly batsh**t if it was taken outside of Western Asia and triply batsh**t if it was taken outside of the AFC.

Who cares? Literally one AFC member has made it to a World Cup semifinal, and they were hosting!

"...and they were hosting/cheating!" is what you meant.

Sadly, this won't be reversed. Listen, we all know the U.S. is the country that deserves to host the 2022 tournament but it just isn't going to happen at this point.

Yeah, the fact that there hasn't even been discussion of pulling it after the slave labor revelations shows nothing will be done about it. Best that all the relevant teams boycott and we can pretend it never happened.

Well, no, only because I don't want to go eight years between World Cups. Of course, if Italy performs horribly (a la 2010) I will immediately say it was one of the worst tournaments that we should discredit (just like 2002 and 2010 which were undoubtably horrible).

[Keystone Phil]

Also the AFC would go batsh**t if it was stripped from Qatar, and doubly batsh**t if it was taken outside of Western Asia and triply batsh**t if it was taken outside of the AFC.

Who cares? Literally one AFC member has made it to a World Cup semifinal, and they were hosting!

"...and they were hosting/cheating!" is what you meant.

Sadly, this won't be reversed. Listen, we all know the U.S. is the country that deserves to host the 2022 tournament but it just isn't going to happen at this point.

What did we ever do to deserve having that foisted on us again so soon?  As it is we'll probably get stuck with 2026.

Oh, little things like having world class stadiums have a little something to do with it.

Ever since getting screwed over for 2022, I've been pessimistic/paranoid about 2026. You watch: they'll somehow award it to Mexico or, more realistically, Canada. Just watch.

[Keystone Phil]

2030 is going to Argentina-Uruguay. Europe will get it in 2034.

[Keystone Phil]

With China getting 2038 and Australia shut out until *at least* 2050 so that Qatar can have a world cup instead.

This is BushOK-esque.

[Keystone Phil]

It absolutely was appropriate for Asia to get the world cup, but Qatar was such a horrible choice.

It's why I was supporting Istanbul for the 2020 Olympics, btw - if Istanbul had gotten the games, it would have shut the door on Doha for at least a couple of decades.

Other than the awful match times, Australia as a host would be fine. Qatar was obviously a godawful choice.

Well and it being another Winter World Cup. I really don't like that.

[Keystone Phil]

This crisis in Ukraine may provide the opportunity to get the 2018 World Cup moved. Senators Kirk and Coats have written a letter to Blatter, urging him to strip Russia of hosting rights - http://www.beinsports.tv/news/article/s1oji2fyne6a195txu97ob7df/title/us-senators-sepp-blatter-fifa-world-cup-2014-2018

[Keystone Phil]

Colombia was stripped of the 1986 World Cup eight full years after receiving it, so there is precedent.

They weren't stripped, they voluntarily pulled out IIRC.

If only another Colombian had done the same...

[Keystone Phil]

So, Anything new going on with this?

Funny you ask that since there was this news today, posted elsewhere - http://m.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27654587

[Keystone Phil]

It's being reported that, as I predicted and feared, Canada will bid for the 2026 World Cup.

And something I realized just the other day: the U.S. will be in the midst of our 250th birthday celebration when the Quarters or Semis are taking place unless the time frame for the tournament is adjusted. I originally thought that could help our bid but it might be seen as way too much of a distraction.

[Keystone Phil]

http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-qatar-wont-host-2022-world-cup-says-fifas-zwanziger-2014-9

It's important to realize that this is his personal opinion but it means something that more FIFA officials are turning on the idiotic idea of the tournament being in Qatar.

[Keystone Phil]

Well, I hope they keep stalling. The longer it takes them IMO, the more likely the United States becomes the best candidate to host.

The World may need the US to host the Cup, but the US does not need to host the World Cup.  It's like the Olympics.  I'm perfectly happy to let some other country have the bother and expense of hosting such an event.

Good for you.

[Keystone Phil]

So for 2022 there are rumours going around now that Blatter's stripping Qatar of its World Cup hosting rights, apparently.

Don't get our hopes up. Though this could be in response to serious backlash to officials saying it would have to be held in the Winter.

[Keystone Phil]

The Mexican Football Federation stated on December 9th that they plan to bid for the 2026 World Cup. The "long shot" attempt to deny the U.S. as host is well underway.

[Keystone Phil]

What the hell, they've already had it twice! Half of the games in the United States would basically be home games for them anyway.

And then there's the whole thing about it being extremely dangerous but we won't let minor inconveniences get in the way!

I actually agree with Snowstalker on this: I can totally see Canada getting it especially if the women's World Cup goes off without a hitch.

[Keystone Phil]

What the hell, they've already had it twice! Half of the games in the United States would basically be home games for them anyway.

And then there's the whole thing about it being extremely dangerous but we won't let minor inconveniences get in the way!

I actually agree with Snowstalker on this: I can totally see Canada getting it especially if the women's World Cup goes off without a hitch.

I'm going to swim against the North American tide, and express a personal support for a hypothetical Greek candidacy.

...what.