World Cup 2018 & 2022 bids

That does not bother me in the slightest. In never got in the way of nations like USA or South Africa hosting it in the past. And IMO, it was the right decision to host it in these countries.

FIFA has a duty to spread the popularity of football deep into the corners of the world and in doing so increase the competitiveness and popularity in less developed footballing countries.

Much like the Olympics, hosting the world cup gives a developing country a 'destination' to plan for and so forces it to invest in national infrastructure projects. Given that a world cup would be nationwide, it would encourage a country to further develop its inter city communications. China has these facilities inbuilt ... and by 2022, so would India.

Likewise, hosting a world cup would encourage nations to invest in its footballing infrastructure and development. There is ample time in 11 years to develop a new generation of footballers who would participate in a 2022 world cup ... and so if attention and focus was provided, there is no reason why China or India should not be able to create a competitive team that would do well in the tournament.

Anyway, neither country has applied, so its a moot point, but in my opinion, that a great shame. Id love to have toured either country for a world cup!

I'm sorry, but I think footballing pedigree does matter. I'm not saying that only Brazil, Argentina, Italy & Germany should ever host the WC, it's acceptable to have lesser footballing nations like US (in 94), S Africa this year, or Japan & Korea (in 02), but they need to be at least decent - having previously qualified for a WC and not made a complete fool of themselves during it is a good indication.

The problem with having very weak hosts, is that, when they're seeded in pot 1, you end with up with a very very weak group and makes people lose interest.

China can certainly host a world cup from a logistical point of view, but India? They even made a mess of the Commonwealth game.
 
I am sure most, if not all, already know who they will vote for in Round 1, but the way the voting works means that they may have to switch allegiances in the later rounds, so that is why all the lobbying goes on until the very last minute.

This, I'm hoping Korea go out first and those who voted for them in turn vote for Japan. Then Qatar goes out so Japan secures all the Asian votes.

I know Australia are "Asian" in a footballing sense, but they are really competing for support against USA for the English speaking countries.
 
That does not bother me in the slightest. In never got in the way of nations like USA or South Africa hosting it in the past. And IMO, it was the right decision to host it in these countries.

FIFA has a duty to spread the popularity of football deep into the corners of the world and in doing so increase the competitiveness and popularity in less developed footballing countries.

Much like the Olympics, hosting the world cup gives a developing country a 'destination' to plan for and so forces it to invest in national infrastructure projects. Given that a world cup would be nationwide, it would encourage a country to further develop its inter city communications. China has these facilities inbuilt ... and by 2022, so would India.

Likewise, hosting a world cup would encourage nations to invest in its footballing infrastructure and development. There is ample time in 11 years to develop a new generation of footballers who would participate in a 2022 world cup ... and so if attention and focus was provided, there is no reason why China or India should not be able to create a competitive team that would do well in the tournament.

Anyway, neither country has applied, so its a moot point, but in my opinion, that a great shame. Id love to have toured either country for a world cup!

I would vote for India rather than China, given the fact that India has not had the Olympics.
 
I'm sorry, but I think footballing pedigree does matter. I'm not saying that only Brazil, Argentina, Italy & Germany should ever host the WC, it's acceptable to have lesser footballing nations like US (in 94), S Africa this year, or Japan & Korea (in 02), but they need to be at least decent - having previously qualified for a WC and not made a complete fool of themselves during it is a good indication.

The problem with having very weak hosts, is that, when they're seeded in pot 1, you end with up with a very very weak group and makes people lose interest.

China can certainly host a world cup from a logistical point of view, but India? They even made a mess of the Commonwealth game.

I agree with sammsky here - I think it is good to give the WC to lesser footballing nations because it helps to develop the game over there.
Your argument also falls down on your favorite Japan! By your measure they should never have been allowed to host in 2002.

Both India and China could host a WC if they wanted to but they dont want to so I am not sure why we are even discussing it !

Anyway the Qatar bid presentation just started - I am very interested to see what exactly they have to say ...
FIFA.com - Bidders Presentations - LIVE Video
 
Qatar bid is very slick. Like the fact that it was in French and English, the 'legacy' idea of deconstructing the stadia after event and donating and reconstructing in other developing nations. The bid is in with a serious chance.
 
Qatar bid is very slick. Like the fact that it was in French and English, the 'legacy' idea of deconstructing the stadia after event and donating and reconstructing in other developing nations.
That was a real blow in the gut for me (an Aussie). I can see that being a big bleeding heart boost...the bastards.

I missed our presentation and this Qatar one is the first I've seen, but it does seem to be a very good presentation. :mad:
 
I'm sorry, but I think footballing pedigree does matter. I'm not saying that only Brazil, Argentina, Italy & Germany should ever host the WC, it's acceptable to have lesser footballing nations like US (in 94), S Africa this year, or Japan & Korea (in 02), but they need to be at least decent - having previously qualified for a WC and not made a complete fool of themselves during it is a good indication.

The problem with having very weak hosts, is that, when they're seeded in pot 1, you end with up with a very very weak group and makes people lose interest.

China can certainly host a world cup from a logistical point of view, but India? They even made a mess of the Commonwealth game.


Sorry but you are plainly wrong. The quality of Japanese and Korean football was very low at the time it was awarded the world cup, 6 years previous to the event. The World Cup of 2002 acted as the catalyst for both these nations to focus on its footballing ability and infrastructure. We will see the benefits to South African football in the years to come, now the world cup has awakened the game and left behind its magic.

If I had it my way, I would award it to a new nation every time. There are more than enough motivated nations available to be able to host it in a different country for many many centuries! A world cup hosted in India, China, Thailand, the Caribbean, Australia, Canada, Norway, Turkey, Qatar etc would all be amazing ... and certainly more enticing than going to the usual suspects.

Re India making a mess of the Commonwealth games .... in the end, all turned out well and they just about made it .... so your contention is not true. Likewise, it will have been a great learning curve for the country to go through. And lastly, the commonwealth games and World Cup are 2 totally different propositions .... and one would imagine that there would be much more support and monitoring of progress from both FIFA and its sponsors than was provided by the organisers of the commonwealth games.
 
I like the idea of it being "the most compact WC in History"....WCs can be a nightmare if they're in a massive country. You feel detached from a lot of it. SA was wonderful in that all the people were fantastic and the organisation was pukka, but the travel - all but one game requiring 5 o clock starts and a flight there and back within the day - was a bit of a palava.

I've no idea of Qatar's actual capabilities, but that's a definite plus for a fan...

MILF alert here btw.
 
I like the idea of it being "the most compact WC in History"....WCs can be a nightmare if they're in a massive country. You feel detached from a lot of it. SA was wonderful in that all the people were fantastic and the organisation was pukka, but the travel - all but one game requiring 5 o clock starts and a flight there and back within the day - was a bit of a palava.

I've no idea of Qatar's actual capabilities, but that's a definite plus for a fan...

MILF alert here btw.

:lol::lol: 8/10!
 
Qatar bid is very slick. Like the fact that it was in French and English, the 'legacy' idea of deconstructing the stadia after event and donating and reconstructing in other developing nations. The bid is in with a serious chance.

I agree, a very impressive presentation. BTW it was Spanish and English.
Also interesting that they have a female presenter, possibly a direct response to general doubts about womens rights etc in the Middle East.

What's the climate in Qatar in June/July? Comparable to any previous hosts? I'm thinking of the heat of Mexico in particular.

They started the presentation by talking about the heat in Mexico '86 and how that WC was also played at altitude - so immediately addressing concerns about the heat.
 
I agree, a very impressive presentation. BTW it was Spanish and English.

Also interesting that they have a female presenter, possibly a direct response to general doubts about womens rights etc in the Middle East.



They started the presentation by talking about the heat in Mexico '86 and how that WC was also played at altitude - so immediately addressing concerns about the heat.

Im sure it was in French .... my french is pretty appalling but even I heard words such as 'aujourd'hui' and Je voudrais'!

Yes, its a very well thought through presentation, they tackled head on, all the issues one might have with their bid and provided excellent rationale and ideas about how they would address these issues. I would not be surprised if they won.
 
That was very impressive from Qatar.

I think their chances have just increased after watching that. They answered a lot of technical questions and their presentation was targeted at emotions. I could see Blatter being tempted to be the one who brings the World Cup to both Africa and the Middle East. It may just leave a lasting legacy in the region through sport.
 
I agree, a very impressive presentation. BTW it was Spanish and English.
Also interesting that they have a female presenter, possibly a direct response to general doubts about womens rights etc in the Middle East.



They started the presentation by talking about the heat in Mexico '86 and how that WC was also played at altitude - so immediately addressing concerns about the heat.


It's actually not that surprising, no one is saying Qatar is utopia, but it is also not Saudi Arabia which is what most seem to do when it comes to any arab nation.

I bet there are people so cluless, they would even say the same about Lebanon(setting aside the fact it is a country still sorting itself out)

I've been to Doha, and seen women both Qatari and western in shorts and sleeveless tops(obviously they aren't very very common) but neither are they then pulled over and lashed by the religiious police.

Qatar also has one of the better media in the entire region(Al Jazeera english), women participate in local elections, and there is an actual investment company just consisting of Qatari businesswomen.

There are many legitimate reasons to criticize the Qatari bid, without people getting into needless stereotyping.
 
Im sure it was in French .... my french is pretty appalling but even I heard words such as 'aujourd'hui' and Je voudrais'!

Yes, its a very well thought through presentation, they tackled head on, all the issues one might have with their bid and provided excellent rationale and ideas about how they would address these issues. I would not be surprised if they won.


Nah it was Spanish - which makes sense as there were accusations of collusion between Qatar and Spain, basically all the Latin American votes will be going to Qatar.

Spain and Qatar face Fifa probe into alleged World Cup bid collusion - Telegraph

I think they have it in the bag.
 
That was very impressive from Qatar.

I think their chances have just increased after watching that. They answered a lot of technical questions and their presentation was targeted at emotions. I could see Blatter being tempted to be the one who brings the World Cup to both Africa and the Middle East. It may just leave a lasting legacy in the region through sport.

You have to remember that being awarded the World Cup has very little to do with technical bids and shiny presentations and much more to do with politics and back slapping.

Sad, but true.
 
Morgan Freeman's in the US delegation....I hope he gives a speech.

"Ever since I was a young boy people have enjoyed listening to me talk"
 
I dont think it about 'being put in your place'. Lots of people had reservations, based primarily on lack of awareness/unfamiliarity with the country. It feels like Qatars presentation has tackled many of these presuppositions.

Having seen its bid presentation, I think awarding it to Qatar would be a very progressive and forward thinking move from FIFA and I would applaud it. It would certainly make for a very different experience for the global footballing community.
 
China held the Olympics(very very well run), of course they can handle the World Cup..but should they? No.

India....HELL NO.

I was thinking more about infrastructure. The Olympics takes place almost entirely in one city, a World Cup is geographically far wider, especially in a country the size of China.
 
How did the Qatar presentation address the matter of the supporters' experience during the tournament? And the flat atmosphere of recent neutral matches held there?
 
bored of the American bid already. What a crap video.

Hope Morgan Freeman spices it up!
 
Nah, this American bid feels like a backwards step for football. Awarding it to the US would waste a huge opportunity to take the game somewhere more worthy.


OMG - what a big feck up by Morgan Freeman ... on missing out an entire page of his speech. Im completely lost .... I dont know what he is saying. He is fumbling around and lost his cool!!!
 
Freeman totally messed up that speech. It was appaling.

And a pre recorded Obama speech is pretty poor. I dont think that has helped, if anything, it would be stronger without this ... which just makes it look like its not important enough for him to attend personally.
 
This US bid has all the right people (Morgan Freeman, Obama, Donovan) but it's just a very bland presentation....which is weird for the US. You'd think it'd be the other way around?
 
EPIC FAIL for the US presentation - no chance based on this crap.
 
I agree with sammsky here - I think it is good to give the WC to lesser footballing nations because it helps to develop the game over there.
Your argument also falls down on your favorite Japan! By your measure they should never have been allowed to host in 2002.

Both India and China could host a WC if they wanted to but they dont want to so I am not sure why we are even discussing it !

Anyway the Qatar bid presentation just started - I am very interested to see what exactly they have to say ...
FIFA.com - Bidders Presentations - LIVE Video

Japan have always been one of the better Asian footballing countries, they have won the Asian Cup multiple times and honestly never made a complete fool of themselves in any WC.

Sorry but you are plainly wrong. The quality of Japanese and Korean football was very low at the time it was awarded the world cup, 6 years previous to the event. The World Cup of 2002 acted as the catalyst for both these nations to focus on its footballing ability and infrastructure. We will see the benefits to South African football in the years to come, now the world cup has awakened the game and left behind its magic.

If I had it my way, I would award it to a new nation every time. There are more than enough motivated nations available to be able to host it in a different country for many many centuries! A world cup hosted in India, China, Thailand, the Caribbean, Australia, Canada, Norway, Turkey, Qatar etc would all be amazing ... and certainly more enticing than going to the usual suspects.

Re India making a mess of the Commonwealth games .... in the end, all turned out well and they just about made it .... so your contention is not true. Likewise, it will have been a great learning curve for the country to go through. And lastly, the commonwealth games and World Cup are 2 totally different propositions .... and one would imagine that there would be much more support and monitoring of progress from both FIFA and its sponsors than was provided by the organisers of the commonwealth games.

You may just have a point about Japan being poor before 1996, Korea were the single Asian country who has participated in the highest number of WC by that stage.
 
This US bid has all the right people (Morgan Freeman, Obama, Donovan) but it's just a very bland presentation....which is weird for the US. You'd think it'd be the other way around?

very unimpressed by both of these iconic titans of public speaking and performance. Freeman made almost comical schoolboy errors in his live performance and Obama's pre recorded shite came across as arrogant.
 
The USA bid is technically excellent but maybe it's lacking a bit of heart. The facts, big names and slick presentation will make some impact. FIFA will clearly see the obvious potential in the nation though and that will be hard to ignore. Money talks sometimes.