Your right, they changed the automatic qualifier rule for the previous world cup champion and I got that confused with the rule for host country. I think the decision came down to which countries they thought had the financial means to put on a successful world cup.
That's certainly not true, - the other countries (England, US etc)not only have better financial means, being many many times larger, but they already have the facilities and infrastructure in place and much better (read: more profitable for FIFA) sponsorship opportunities. the best wrap up of why is here: http://www.slate.com/id/2276606/
England is going through austerity measures like slashing education funds to deal with their deficit, and I think we all know the situation with ours. Also while other countries's people have unanimous support for hosting the world cup, I don't think football has that kind of support here, given the attitude a lot of people have here about soccer and globalization in general. Your correct that the US has better existing facilities but in order to put on a event of such scale our transportation infrastructure needs to be revamped, and modernized. I don't think the world really trust the US to do anything we promise to do, just because everything has to pass through our political system first and we all know how quickly things gets done here...
Spare a thought for England. It'll be at least 15 WC finals before we get to host another one and most likely 16.
I'm sorry, what was the problem with South Africa? Last time I checked, pre-2006 the World Cup had been on European soil AND Asian soil so what's the beef with South Africa getting the chance to host it this year?
Why the f^ck does it always come down to the size of the country that wins?? First it was Ghana when they beat the US for the 2nd world cup in a row and people felt it necessary to ponder how the US could lose to a country the size of one of it's states. So f^cking what! All things get equaled on the pitch. Now it's Qatar and how small the country is and how could the US lose to a country the size of one of it's states. Come on man, I hate that attitude.
Yes just because a country is small doesn't mean they aren't good at Soccer Qatar is a country who are crazy about soccer, and have some very rich people wanting to invest in soccer. Just look at many of the old time great players who finish their career in Qatar for a lot of money(De Boer, Cocu).
I liked Russia's presentation and thought if a European country was going to get it, then they should. Qatar on the other hand.....wow.... I've been saying for months now, if they wanted it bad enough, they'd just buy it. There is no logical reason at all to stage the World Cup there, not one. From an Australian perspective, I thought our bid was terrible, but I thought we may have had a chance because we run big events brilliantly, the WC had never been held in Oceania and it was the last continent that had yet to hold the WC. We had some great plans for the stadiums that would be in use (A couple of which would have become white elephants though) and the weather in winter here when it would be held is actually not that bad really. Soccer in Australia needed the 2022 World Cup too. It was the promise at the end of the rainbow that had been keeping the game alive for some time. I don't know what will happen to the game here now that the government spent $45 million on a failed bid (And what a huge failure, 1 single vote!) and with the club game bleeding red ink every season. Anyway, wrote a bit about it on my site: http://www.leaguefreak.com/news.php?readmore=939
I agree that the size of the country isn't relevant on the field, but the ability to host the World Cup is a different story. There are logistical issues of cramming that many people into that small of an area, that's just a simple fact. We'll find out in 2022 if they are able to pull it off or not. And personally I think the USA is too big. If a team has a game on in New York and their next game is in LA they have a 6+ hour flight. I know they were planning on regionalizing the groups to prevent stuff like that, but once you get to the knockout rounds that wouldn't be an option.
I don't think the size of the country is an issue at all, Qatar is expanding and have many projects that will accommodate the influx due to the WC. However I don't think a country that has never qualified for a WC should be allowed to host it.
LOL, their economy is still about twice the size of Russia, and to blame their short-term budget issues is laughable. There's a reason why Russian billionaires all go to London, btw. And it ain't becuase it's a downgrade. That has absolutely no bearing on their ability to host the world cup, which they could probably do tomorrow, since the stadiums and transportation infrastructure is already built, , especially compared to Russia. Oh, and in case you haven't heard, they're kind of hosting the Olympics in 1.5 years. So you really think there were legitimate concerns that they wouldn't be able to do it? Ridiculous, countries like the US, UK, Germany etc could host a world cup tomorrow if they had to. This is rich, considering that Russia's transit infrastructure in most of the host cities still consists of soviet-era machinery and materiel, but you're right, the world trusts the government of South Africa and Russia and Qatar, that's why their bonds....oh wait, I'm not taking crazy pills.
I think their climate, onerous laws, history of human trafficking and other reasons should have eliminated them. Honestly, IMO, Fifa is leaving themselves open for competition......someone else could come in and set up a soccer tourament that rivals the WC, and put it in larger countries, in a rotating manner, and it might kill the WC... DD
Sports is not about politics, as long as there are no issues relating to safety and economic viability then there should be no other criteria that should be involved. The spirit of sports is about bringing people together and enjoying something that everyone can relate to, not about who is socially and politically more advanced. Every country has problems, some more than others, but each is striving to get better, at some point in history one country will be ahead of the other in terms of social/political standing in the world. That should not be what decides where a sports event should take place as it is not in the spirit of gamesmanship. Keep politics out of sports.
Politics have a practical impact on sports fans. If gay people cannot come to a sports event, if Israelis cannot come to a sports event, if people cannot have a drink at a sports event, all because of politics/law/culture/religion, then, simply by the choice of venue, politics already have an impact and one has already failed at keeping politics out of sports.
Israeli's and homosexuals are not allowed to sporting events in Qatar? Any reliable sources on that info? Its not like they check your citizenship or sexuality at the stadium, at least I don't think so, if I am wrong then that would be a major issue. But I doubt Qatar would have won the WC bid if they had stated that they will uphold these rules, IF they are true in the first place.
Israeli athletes have participated in Qatar previously, He just likes to drag his agenda by spewing lies and hatred. His Muslim doctor circumcised him a little too much when he was born.
I do not agree. If you eliminate those countries BECAUSE of those reasons, and make it know that is why they are being eliminated, they will learn that if they want to get those big events they need to get up to the world standards, particularly on human rights. I seriously think if someone started a "World Championship" soccer event that is like every 2 years....or 4...whatever to compete with the WC, it could change everything. Start a new tournament, that is hosted on a rotating basis during off years for WC.... If it gets big enough Fifa would have to adjust or get passed on by....nothing sorts crap out like competition. DD
1) Israeli citizens: CNN reliable enough? http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/12/02/world.cup.qatar.opinion/index.html But with publicity comes scrutiny. How can Qatar ensure stability in a region that is notoriously unstable? Currently Israeli citizens are banned from entering the country. Will Israeli fans and footballers be allowed to attend? ---------- Officially, you cannot even enter if you only have an Israeli stamp in your passport (although there seem to be ways around it): http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1722242 2) Homosexuals: In 1995 an American citizen visiting Qatar was sentenced to six months in prison and 90 lashes, for homosexuality activity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Qatar ChrisBosh, if you wish to discuss this, please come to the D&D where a separate thread exists.
