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World Cup decision day
in Sports
Waiting on pins and needles for FIFA's decision on the countries hosting the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. Come on USA 2022!
Re: World Cup decision day
If USA gets 2022, there's a great chance that the final could be here in Dallas' "Death Star" aka the Cowboys' stadium.
I think selecting Qatar is a horrible decision. Combined with the Russia decision, I do not think this outcome will do anything to negate the allegations of corruption. It will only enforce the idea that votes can be bought.The is no way you can convince me that Qatar had the best all around bid. I do not really believe Russia had the best all around bid either, but I am not as upset with that decision. Although Russia was my least favorite choice of the 2018 options.
There is no other logical explanation for going to Qatar. Well, other than Blatter wanting to say he was the one who brought the World Cup to all these new places.
I think the heat is going to be a problem, even if they manage to put A/C in all the stadiums. I know they are claiming they will be green, but how green can you be if you are trying to A/C an open air stadium. Sure the stadium decision look cool, but that is all they really have going for them.
I also think the size of the country is a problem. I think six of the stadiums are going to be in Doha, that is just crazy. Everyone is going to be on top of each other. This is assuming fans show up, which they might not given the heat and the location. The Middle East is not high on my current places to visit list right now, who knows what it will be like in 2022.
My biggest complaint might be the level of play of the Qatari team. I think you should have to qualify for a World Cup on your own before you are eligible to host one and get the automatic bid. Basically they bought their way into the World Cup. Not really the message I would want to send if I was FIFA.
I was hoping it if did not go to the USA then it would go to Australia. I would have been behind that decision. I can not believe they went out in the first round.
Overall, I was disappointed in the day. I know FIFA is corrupt and I should not be surprised, but I was hoping things might go differently.
Quatar??
Really?
What? Was Easter Island all booked up?
Russia was the bottom of my list but I can live with that.
Qatar though, really? Besides the fact that their team is a joke, the country can't possibly support the amount of people who will be there. Hotels? Stadiums? and the rest of the Industry there cannot do it and they will collapse once everyone leaves. It's all about the oil/money.
Ridiculous.
Tea Time for Lulu
I agree with everything you've said. I think Russia will be able to pull it off, but Qatar is a big question mark.
Some interesting op eds:
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/why-losing-the-world-cup-bid-is-a-big-win-a-guest-post/
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/grant_wahl/12/03/wc.bids/index.html
Interesting, I had not read those articles yet. I had not heard about people claiming to vote for England and Australia when they obviously did not. I wonder what FIFA has to say about that.
I agree that the voting process needs to change.
As for the economics of it, I do not think US Soccer was trying to win the bid to make money as their primary goal. They want to grow the game here and soccer to be more popular. Which in the long run could mean more money, but I do not think they are concerned about making money off the WC specifically.
As a fan, I just want the WC to be in places I actually want to visit and are not too hard to get to logistically or economically. I know the WC can not meet those expectations all the time, but I do not think FIFA is even thinking about the fans/travel/etc.
Another interesting article
England FA chief quits
I agree 100%. Especially considering the intense outrage at the choices.
Tea Time for Lulu