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Ok, it’s time to revive the dead horse and ride it some more.&nbsp; Trust me, I don’t want to but I have to.
Since the December 2 vote to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup, I have made peace with the decision.&nbsp; While I still believe the country was not the best bid put forward (the U.S. and Australia were better venues in my opinion), I understand the logic and benefits and made my peace with it.&nbsp; I wish them good luck and anticipate an absolutely excellent World Cup.
But it’s FIFA that keeps making my blood boil over this issue.

Today it’s Michael Platini’s<a href="http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com/su/ANBVqt/www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/8255326/World-Cup-2022-Michel-Platini-proposes-Gulf-World-Cup.html" target="_blank"> interview reported in The Telegraph</a>, where he shares his ideas and hopes for Qatar’s World Cup, among other topics.&nbsp; His thought is that the 2022 World Cup should be a Gulf World Cup, or in his words: “I hope it will be a World Cup of the Gulf. It could be the World Cup of Qatar but played in the Gulf.”&nbsp; This is interesting because the idea has been floated in the media by different soccer personalities but was always rebuked, usually by someone from FIFA saying Qatar has never applied for that change.&nbsp; But now the idea of a World Cup hosted by Qatar but played in other countries seems to be gaining steam.
This is on top of the already brewing movement to move the 2022 World Cup to the winter months.&nbsp; Last week, Sepp Blatter became the most recent person to <a href="http:\/\/soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/861999/blatter-predicts-winter-world-cup?cc=5901" target="_blank">suggest the event be played in January</a>, and league schedules be adjusted accordingly.&nbsp; This of course has been argued on this site and others, so I don’t want to rehash those arguments.&nbsp; But it seems to me the 2022 World Cup has a general location, but not a set date nor set locations for the matches to take place.
Not to worry, Platini told the press: “When I organised (sic) the World Cup in France we did (things) differently from what we proposed in the bid.”&nbsp; He conveniently forgot to mention France’s huge soccer structure already in place, as well as summer temperatures below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp; What these debates tell me is FIFA backed themselves into a corner by picking a location but not having a firm idea of any specific details.&nbsp; Ask any bride-to-be or meeting planner, and they will tell you this is a recipe for disaster.
So should Qatar have its World Cup pulled?&nbsp; Not necessarily; a winter World Cup hosted by the Gulf States but based in Qatar can still be a massive success.&nbsp; But there are so many unknowns and unresolved scenarios that even an event 11 years away is looking like a dubious proposition.&nbsp; So FIFA should take an unprecedented step (again) and do the following: announce after its elections that in December 2014, FIFA will review a new 2022 World Cup bid from Qatar.&nbsp; Qatar’s bid will address the timing and location issues, as well as progress on stadiums and other logistics.&nbsp; After the presentation, the executive committee will have a vote to confirm the bid, and require a supermajority to strip Qatar if it feels their bid is not prepared for the event in eight years.&nbsp; If that occurs, FIFA can have a process to vote on new bids (possibly just have the other finalists resubmit) but it would need its committee to firmly and overwhelmingly reject (say, a 2/3rds vote) the current site.
The positives of this re-vote?&nbsp; This gives FIFA and Qatar four years to decide the basics of the 2022 World Cup and begin to implement its plan.&nbsp; If they cannot do this by 2014, FIFA needs to act in the game’s best interest and consider other venues.&nbsp; This may or may not be the U.S., but that’s not why this is an important issue.&nbsp; This is an important issue because the soccer community needs to know that the 2022 World Cup will take place and be successful, not a drama filled event like the Olympics were in Greece.&nbsp; That way, we can finally figure out who won the 2022 bidding: Qatar, or some ambiguous idea.

Should FIFA Revote on the 2022 World Cup? - World Soccer Talk

Should FIFA Revote on the 2022 World Cup?

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Just as the outrage of the U.S. losing the World Cup to Qatar seems to be settling down, Sepp Blatter and FIFA decided to open the controversy back up again.&nbsp; In <a href="http:\/\/www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2010/12/16/sp-fifa-world-cup.html" target="_blank">an interview with journalists</a> in Qatar during a visit to the Club World Cup, the FIFA president said that the organization was considering holding the 2022 World Cup during the winter, in response to concerns about the heat during matches.&nbsp; “FIFA’s job is to have a World Cup that protects the players so we take note of the recommendations and go through the list of requirements,” he said.
FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke also addressed the issue, pointing out that holding the World Cup in the winter could help FIFA award the event to countries that previously would be unable to host.&nbsp; Says Valcke: “Why not? It means you open the World Cup to countries where they can never play it in June and July because it’s never the right period of time… it would be a solution to open the organization of the World Cup to a number of countries in this period which is winter in Europe but not winter in the rest of the world.”
So we aren’t going to get the air conditioned stadiums anymore?!?!?
Maybe, but the decision hasn’t been made yet, according to Blatter.&nbsp; FIFA executive committee member Franz Beckenbauer first raised the idea after the 2022 voting, and the idea was seconded by UEFA President Michel Plantini.&nbsp; Qatar has not yet requested the change in season but with the 2022 World Cup twelve years away, there is time to do so.
So if the World Cup were to be moved to January 2022, who would be the biggest winner?&nbsp; MLS
Assuming all major soccer leagues keep their schedules in the next twelve years, Europe and fall-to-spring leagues will have to make major adjustments to their 2021-2023 schedules to accommodate a major international tournament.&nbsp; You can imagine the angst that will cause the leagues, who will have to shift their schedules for months to accommodate their players’ international obligations.
However, MLS has the type of schedule that is perfect for a winter World Cup.&nbsp; As the event is ending, training camps are getting into full swing and national team players (for the U.S. and other countries) can easily integrate themselves into their clubs without missing huge chunks of games, like they do now during the World Cup.&nbsp; There wouldn’t be that awkward period of time where MLS games are overshadowed by televised World Cup games.&nbsp; And if the U.S. national team makes serious progress, the positive vibe and support for the national team could translate into MLS support (although that was not necessarily the case this year).
So as an MLS fan, I fully support the 2022 Winter World Cup!&nbsp; Do you?

A Winter World Cup in 2022? - World Soccer Talk

A Winter World Cup in 2022?

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In the wake of Thursday’s loss to Qatar in maybe the only place U.S. soccer can lose to them (the FIFA boardroom), many American soccer fans tried to rally their spirits by immediately turning their focus to the 2026 World Cup process.&nbsp; An initial glance at the state of play right now for the World Cup suggests 2026 could be an even better opportunity for a United States World Cup than 2022.
CONCACAF would be long overdue to host the event (the last one being 1994) and by FIFA rules Europe and Asia would be ineligible to host.&nbsp; South American would be unlikely because FIFA would probably want the 2030 World Cup in Uruguay/Argentina to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the tournament.&nbsp; And out of North America, Oceania, and Africa the U.S. bid would look very promisingly, especially since it would then have been 32 years since the last American World Cup.
But upon further reflection a U.S. 2026 bid is in no way a slam dunk, despite our advantages.&nbsp; Here are the top five reasons to not get your hopes too high about the 2026 bid:
1.&nbsp; China – Yes, FIFA rules prohibit a federation from hosting consecutive World Cups, so China could not follow Qatar.&nbsp; However, FIFA could change them between now and the next bid process if the right situation presents itself.&nbsp; Chinese interest in a World Cup checks many of the boxes for FIFA: guaranteed profit, an infrastructure perfect for hosting such an event, a growing (or by 2026 grown) soccer market, and government assurances for a successful event.&nbsp; Imagine the best of the U.S., Australia and Qatar bids, and you have China.&nbsp; Such a cash cow might be hard to turn down.
2.&nbsp; Canada – Mexico would be a prime place for a World Cup, but they have already hosted twice.&nbsp; Canada, however, would be a compelling location for a World Cup and a perfect foil to a U.S. bid.&nbsp; Again, Canada is a rich nation that has hosted Olympics in the past.&nbsp; Soccer exists and has support, but a World Cup could really push its growth in the country.&nbsp; The women’s team is already good.&nbsp; If the Canadian team makes progress over the next few cycles, then Canada becomes a very attractive first-time bid.
3.&nbsp; A first-time African nation bid – South Africa plus Qatar equals a dream scenario for FIFA.&nbsp; Right now it’s hard to find a stable enough African country that’s not South Africa to be a really strong contender for a World Cup.&nbsp; It is a long time between 2010 and the bid process, however, and there are a bunch of countries that could be viable for the next cycle. 
4.&nbsp; Map changes – There are some odd anomalies in the soccer federations.&nbsp; Some, like Israel, are for cultural and geopolitical reasons while some (like Australia) are for competitive reasons.&nbsp; The point is that the federations can be changed for a variety of reasons.&nbsp; Why is this a factor?&nbsp; Say FIFA reconsiders and decides Oceania needs to be beefed up as a federation; they put Australia back in Oceania.&nbsp; Now Australia is eligible for the 2026 World Cup without a rules change.&nbsp; Or what if India or the Middle Eastern nations show vast improvement prior to the 2018 World Cup, in anticipation of Qatar in 2022?&nbsp; Would it make sense to add Japan and Australia to Oceania (since they are both Pacific islands)? Or maybe split Asia and merge half of it with Oceania?&nbsp; All of these are unlikely scenarios, but a map change over the next five to ten years could damage another U.S. bid., especially if FIFA wants to give a World Cup to Australia or Japan.
5.&nbsp; New Zealand or a CONCACAF island – Laugh all you want, but if a nation as small as Qatar can win why not New Zealand?&nbsp; This is the same country that almost advanced from group stage in this year’s World Cup, although they did qualify against weaker competition.&nbsp; Oceania has never had a World Cup and it would be a landmark event, something the Executive Committee obviously likes in a bid.&nbsp; It has beautiful scenery and is economically advanced.&nbsp; What about a more-open Cuba?&nbsp; What a great way to show its reemergence to the international stage with a World Cup, either solo or jointly.&nbsp; Is this reason so hard to believe?&nbsp; Yes, both New Zealand and Cuba are odd choices, but they are both larger in land size and population by far than the 2022 host.

Why A 2026 U.S. World Cup is Not A Slam Dunk - World Soccer Talk

Why A 2026 U.S. World Cup is Not A Slam Dunk

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I’ve had about eleven hours to think about the results of the 2022 World Cup announcement, read my peers, and come to grips with the failure of the USSF to land the World Cup.&nbsp; And I think I have a handle on my thoughts and emotions about today.&nbsp; I watched the announcement via the EPL Talk live blog and Twitter, so I was spared the gut-punch of seeing the card with Qatar on it.&nbsp; However, the announcement still hurts as I type this.
I think Qatar is a deserving host for the World Cup.&nbsp; I like the idea of the World Cup bringing peace to a troubled region is a great idea.&nbsp; Civilization began in Mesopotamia, and it’s only fair that after eighty years the region have a chance to host.&nbsp; Their government and citizens were 100% behind the bid.&nbsp; Say what you will about the air-conditioned stadiums that are portable, but if anyone can build an impossible building, Qatar can.&nbsp; They have the money to do it.&nbsp; Seeing pictures of their celebration and the speech thanking FIFA, even the hardest hearted person has to feel a little happy for the delegation.
As for the United States, we acted as though we had a right to this tournament, when in reality what right do we have to the World Cup?&nbsp; The lead story on Sportscenter this morning was LeBron returning to Cleveland, not the World Cup announcement.&nbsp; Even after the United State’s dramatic matches in the World Cup, MLS television viewership fell off in this country.&nbsp; When we accuse other countries of not being able to truly honor soccer during the World Cup, we should hold our tongue until the ratings and attendance for MLS approach those of foreign leagues.&nbsp; We (that is, Americans) should never have assumed the 2022 World Cup was ours.
And yet, the way it all went down is what made this whole thing rotten.
If you believe there were no politics in play on this FIFA Executive Committee, I have waterfront property in Arizona I’d like to sell you.&nbsp; England, the birthplace of the sport and home of the sport’s most well-known player (who presented the bid!), received fewer votes than a joint bid between the Netherlands and Belgium.&nbsp; Coincidentally, the British press aired their high-profile investigation of FIFA this week.&nbsp; But that was 2018, not 2022, so maybe the committee put aside their politics and made the selection based completely on the merit of the bids.
Not quite.&nbsp; Anyone who tells you that Qatar is like the U.S. in 1994 is delusional; Qatar is not only not using the World Cup to build a domestic league but is even exporting their stadiums to other countries!&nbsp; If FIFA wanted to boost a domestic league, they would have given the event to Australia, whose A-League needs a boost in popularity.&nbsp; Also, it can’t be coincidence that the two winners were both major oil money countries with very suspect undergrounds.&nbsp; If FIFA was afraid of its image being dragged through the mud by the BBC, it gave a big fat middle finger to the world media and gave the event to two countries with very suspect human rights records that also are plush with oil money.&nbsp; Even is this was not why the two were selected (and I don’t think it was entirely), the perception is there and FIFA can’t counter it.
My other concern with the Qatar World Cup is something people have joked about but is a real issue – the restrictive societal laws in the country.&nbsp; Maybe FIFA can figure out a way around it, but can Budweiser be the official beer of the Qatar World Cup?&nbsp; Drinking alcohol is a big no-no in Qatar.&nbsp; Additionally, will FIFA sponsors be hesitant to associate themselves with a Qatar World Cup if their record on women and religious minorities does not improve?&nbsp; And the Middle East is not exactly known for political stability – there is a real risk some sort of conflict could be going on during the World Cup.&nbsp; An improving Israel could face a very awkward run to the World Cup.&nbsp; The fact that they were selected despite all this really throws the legitimacy of the bid into doubt.
One other item to note on today’s selection – FIFA may have been sending the U.S. a message with the selection of Russia for the 2018 World Cup.&nbsp; Russia announced recently that its top-flight league would begin playing a fall-to-spring schedule beginning in 2012, despite the notorious Russian winters.&nbsp; There is no doubt in this fan’s mind that FIFA was sending a not so subtle signal to the U.S.
At the end of the day, the United States hosted a World Cup in 1994, and maybe we only deserve to host one every so often.&nbsp; I wrote about the impact of losing the bid on U.S. soccer, and it will hurt MLS and the other domestic soccer entities, but they will go on.&nbsp; Soccer will not die out because of what happened today, and we should not consider bending to the will of FIFA in the hope of getting another shot at a World Cup.&nbsp; But we should all be a little more humble and a little more dedicated to improving our sport here.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "qatar" - Page 5

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