Blatter Endorses Arab World Cup, Bolsters Qatar's 2022 Bid
by Richard Farley on Apr 24, 2010 3:08 PM EDT
13 comments
In talking to soccer fans here in the United States, there is a healthy amount of hope that the 2018 World Cup could still end up in the States. Technically, I suppose this is true, but 2018 is going to Europe, either Russia (the favorite) or England. That leaves 2022, but given what Sepp Blatter said today, that bid is not looking like the favorite, either.
While in Doha today, Sepp Blatter said the Arab world deserves a World Cup. That can be seen as just being a good guest, much the same way those who savor England's 2018 bid think Blatter was merely being gracious when (in Russia) he told Vladimir Putin Russia's chances were good.
Regardless, Blatter is not going out-of-his way to make England and the United States feel good about their chances, and with the hosts to be announced at the end of this year, these little hints help paint the picture.
If, in the interest of legacy building (as well as altruistic reasons), Blatter is committed to taking the World Cup to the Arab world, Qatar will get 2022. The country has the resources to put on a great tournament, and the awarding of the 2022 final may be the last one over which Blatter has influence.
People in the United States will be upset. This country has the infrastructure. This region has not had the tournament since 1994, and the U.S. has shown a final here can be wildly profitable (a point I find a strange endorsement, as if the undo lining of FIFA's pockets is inherently good).
I have trouble getting too worked-up about these things. Having the World Cup in the U.S. would be fun for me, personally, but when I think of the places in the world that have not hosted a final, it's difficult to cry misfortune. If the U.S. gets another final, then people in places like Russia and Qatar miss-out.
It's difficult for me to get too excited about that.
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While Qatar could build amazing stadiums
It just isn’t quite ready. I say this as someone who follows al-Sadd (their #2 this past season), nor do they get great attendance numbers for the pro, nor national game.
A co-bid from the Gulf States would have been ideal, though likely ignored. There just isn’t the populace any individual Emirate/Sultanate to host a tourney of this magnitude.
Oh, and my first ever live soccer game was Kuwait hosting Qatar in ’98 qualifiers.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
It's a great point ...
… I just wonder if the whole concept of “ready” means in the context of awarding World Cup bids. South Africa, of course is an example. Russia could be – there’s no way they should be getting as much run as they have, given their infrastructure. Ukraine/Poland’s problems are known, though that’s UEFA.
Is “ready” an overriding concern?
by Richard Farley on Apr 24, 2010 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
It should be
If you can’t get 20,000 for a league/national match you shouldn’t get the World Cup
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Should ...
… is one thing. I agree. I don’t think RSA should have gotten this Cup.
However, we have to live with the realities of the Blatter regime.
by Richard Farley on Apr 24, 2010 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions
The problem with Qatar
is that you need 10 stadiums to host the World Cup and since only one city can host in two stadiums, you need nine host cities. In Qatar, there’s Doha and well…Doha. Over 80% of the Qatar population lives in Doha so finding eight other cities to host could be an issue and doom their bid.
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by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 24, 2010 5:50 PM EDT reply actions
Tell that ...
… to Sepp Blatter. He seems to be less sanguine about such restrictions.
by Richard Farley on Apr 24, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
That and Qatar could just move people and form new cities
Seriously
They are making an eco paradise, and will need to populate it. Why not build two stadiums there?
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
I thought Australia was in the running for the 2018 tournament. What happened? Have I missed something?
I know ...
… that they had planned on submitting a bid, but last I heard (and this was a casual conversation I had with somebody familiar with it) they had not officially submitted a bid.
Please don’t take that as gospel.
by Richard Farley on Apr 25, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought they made the deadline
but they do have a significant argument with both the Aussie Rules and the Rugby Associations considering stadium usage.
They aren’t in the hunt really.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Yeah there were a lot of reasons for the don’t’s and do’s. I just didn’t know the whole bid had been dropped.
Regarding the other games usages though I know that the Prime Minister said that all other games would be temporarily paused for the World Cup.
I don't believe the PM has the power to do that
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
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