Friday coming (December 2nd) FIFA will vote and decide the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments.

2018 Candidates

Belgium/Netherlands (joint bid)
England
Portugal/Spain (joint bid)
Russia

2022 Candidates

Australia
Japan
South Korea
Qatar
USA

Whom do you think and why - considered and rational opinions only please.

For me, in 2018 I think we can discount both joint bids as I believe FIFA are now wary of these arrangements. Spain/Portugal would be my favourite actually but I think they will miss out because the change of fashion against joint bids. I think the clear winner will therefore be England - Russia being deemed just too risky still.

For 2022, both Japan and South Korea will be thought to have hosted quite recently and picking between them would be far too divisive anyway. I am dismissing Qatar as an outside chance leaving USA vs Australia and I think memories of the excellent 1994 World Cup USA will take the tournament back to North America in 2022. Australia as an 'Asian' choice would be controversial and not universally liked by some asian votes at Fifa.

For your info, recent tournaments - 2014 Brasil, 2010 South Africa, 2006 Germany, 2002 Japan/Korea, 1998 France

Agree in thinking that it's England 2018 and USA 2022.

Well, I for one would hate England getting it.
the 1996 fans that appeared after the Euros almost destroyed our game. Face painted, calling it footy, replica-clad brigade. I hate them and what they did to my game. Luckily I am Millwall, we don't get those kind of supporters to our games.

For the sheer joy I had in Holland/Belgium in 2000 I would love for them to get it even though they definitely are the outsiders. Also the liberal drugpolicy of those countries is good because it reduces the violence that you normally get when a tournament is held in Europe.
But winner will be England no matter how much it will hurt us normal football supporters that go week in and week out. I hope Spain can beat us out though with the help of their latin votes.

With that said give it to Germany again I don't care that they are not bidding the 2006 tournament was just by far the best i have been to. superb on all accounts and the stadiums, pubs and people were right into it. Even the police usually triggerhappy nutters were right on the ballpark allowing drunk behaviour and some good piss ups, knowing how to differentiate between a hooligan and a drunk Englishman on holiday. Spot on all the way.

In 2022 I hope Australia gets it.
The US is one boring place to hold a tournament and their try in 1994 sucked. the people dont understand the game, the stadiums aren't made for football and most of the crowd are piss poor having zero knowledge about atmosphere or emotion. Its a show, just like going to the movies for them and that makes the game boring. Also the distances suck and the public transport is almost non existent outside the Northeast. Stadiums arent centrally located, half of them being in the middle of nowhere with a huge parking lot around them 100% not suited to football and supporters that actually put on a show not a barbecue.

In Australia it would be better, millions of European expats (I would love to see Serbia vs Croatia in Sydney or Greece vs anything down in Melbourne, Scotland ((yeah right they will never qualify hehe)) in Perth etc etc), millions of Asians that grew up with football having migrated there and a population that always put on top shows.
Compare the magnificent Sydney Olympics to the disaster called Atlanta and we all know why Australia should have it and not the US.

So, My prediction
2018 - England
2022 - Australia

My hopes
2018 - Anything but England
2022 - Qatar or Australia.

I don't know how much FIFA takes this into account, but if England were to get it, it would seem like the World Cup and the Summer Olympics would be following each other around, what with London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. Add in the WC in Brazil in 2014 and England in 2018, and you'd have the two biggest sporting events in the world hosted by only two countries for a span of six years.

Thus, I hope Spain/Portugal get the 2018 WC, and I hope that the USA gets it in 2022 for purely selfish reasons, though I'd be happy with Australia getting it as well.

-Mir

I would like to see the USA get another shot, with the final match in the 'new' Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey (only 10 miles from NY City, a replacement of Giants Stadium and with rail service to the site). Most of the match sites should be concentrated in the Northeastern USA (Washington, DC area, Phildelphia, NY/NJ) especially the later rounds, with early rounds including Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago. Since 1994 we have replaced or extensively renovated almost all of the stadiums used then, with them mostly designed to accomidate soccer (what everone else in the world calls football).

Quoting ltbewr (Reply 4): Most of the match sites should be concentrated in the Northeastern USA (Washington, DC area, Phildelphia, NY/NJ) especially the later rounds, with early rounds including Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago.

You have to include LA and Seattle in that as well - those are big soccer cites.

-Mir

It's an interesting thing. The South American votes (3) for 2018 are going to Spain & Portugal as announced this week.

Quoting pacificjourney (Thread starter): 2018 Candidates

Knowing the intense corrupt FIFA the 2018 will go to Russia. Yes I both hope that and see it as a real possibility. With the 2014 Olympics it'll be a nice combination. Prime Minister Putin has given all insurances so things will go smooth definitely if Russia gets awarded the FIFA World Cup.
The recent corruption scandals however may lead the FIFA to decide for a complete rational choice without any corruption scandals possible and that would lead them to NL&BEL / SPA/POR as the other 2 bids for 2018 have been spoiled by corruption scandals & unfriendly comments.

Quoting pacificjourney (Thread starter): 2022 Candidates

Are Japan & S-Korea again bidding? They organised it already in 2002 so I don't support that. The other countries Qatar, Australia and USA aren't very much football countries. Is it the #1 sport there? Qatar however had some interesting ideas with the stadiums to be convertible and movable so that after the WC they could be transferred to Africa. Australia is too much time difference with Europe, Africa & South America (the 3 football continents), so because of that I hope they don't get it.

Quoting Severnaya (Reply 6): Is it the #1 sport there?

It might not be #1 in terms of attendance, but people are pretty crazy about it.

Anyhow - we won't get the 2022 one, so it's time to paint out those logos on QF's VH-OEB (it's even gone to Avalon today, so it is perfectly timed to do it):



It's better off going to the old traditional countries - so they can have their matches at convenient viewing hours. I mean, Australia isn't important enough, is it?   Or maybe we need to "wet the beaks" of a few more of the high officials to ease the selection process....  

[Edited 2010-11-27 05:23:32]

My prediction:

2018: England
2022: Australia

Why Australia? Because for starters, Qatar only wants the World Cup for reasons of commerce (just like the UAE and the Club World Cup), they don't really give a damn about the sport, plus the corruption issues as well as the climate. Qatar has dessert climate, so playing in the sun, during the middle of the day is something that would put me off for health reasons if I was a player (this was discussed here once for a possible bid for the Olympic Games and it was suggested that for the weather to be more bearable, the tournament would have to be moved until September or something). I don't feel Japan and Korea should be able to repeat after only 20 years, and the US, while developing itself into somewhat of a football nation, would probably scare people with its security craze than lure them to the country. I picked Australia because they have benefited from the immigration of Europeans who have helped make the sport big, plus they deserve the chance.

As for 2018, even as a German (thus by nature an archrival of the English in football   ) I feel that it's time that the World Cup returns to England (so we can win against the English like we did in 1996    ). Spain and Portugal are under the same corruption scrutiny as Qatar, there's no chance in hell that Belgium and the Netherlands can co-host like they did during Euro 2000 (not that they can't, they certainly can, but they won't have a chance), plus I don't think it's a good idea Russia hosts the World Cup.

Quoting cpd (Reply 7): It might not be #1 in terms of attendance, but people are pretty crazy about it.

Thanks for sharing!

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 8): plus I don't think it's a good idea Russia hosts the World Cup.

Interesting, do you care to elaborate? Would love to hear a reason (there are indeed many reasons).

After hearing all the demands the FIFA makes in order to award the tournament, I really hope The Netherlands/Belgium don't get it. It will only cost the country a LOT of money and FIFA wants to keep all their profits anyway (without paying any taxes). I love these tournaments, but FIFA is just going way over the top with their demands. Just shows how absolutely corrupt this organization is.

Quoting Mir (Reply 3): but if England were to get it, it would seem like the World Cup and the Summer Olympics would be following each other around, what with London in 2012

If you ask me, nothing wrong with that. Germany did that in 1972 and 1974. It helps to justify investments in infrastructure, and emergency plans are already in place, so that they do not have to be re-done from scratch.

Here's my guess:

2018--England (mostly because English stadiums since the Taylor Report are now all-seaters, something FIFA favors)
2022--USA (mostly because American football stadiums are easily adaptable to FIFA soccer standards)

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 8): as well as the climate. Qatar has dessert climate, so playing in the sun, during the middle of the day is something that would put me off for health reasons if I was a player

The daytime temperature would be around 45C. BUT, I believe the Qatar bid includes fully air-conditioned stadia. In other words, indoor football. Playing outside, even in the evenings/at night, would not be feasible during summer.

Quoting RayChuang (Reply 12): 2022--USA (mostly because American football stadiums are easily adaptable to FIFA soccer standards)

One thing to note is that not all of the stadiums listed in the US bid packet may potentially be used in the 2022 World Cup if awarded to the US. They would still be held in those cities, just in new venues. They've included the Rose Bowl and L.A. Memorial Coliseum in the bid packet and as is currently stands, those venues would see renovations for the 2022 World Cup. However, there are several football stadium concepts being proposed in the L.A. area that could potentially replace one or both of those venues for the 2022 World Cup. Same is true in Atlanta as well, with the bid packet including the Georgia Dome (which in recent years has started to host international club friendlies to 40,000-50,000 fans), which by the time the 2022 World Cup, could have an open air (or retractable dome) sibling next door. The Georgia World Congress Center Authority, which owns and operates the venue, wants to upgrade and update the Georgia Dome in order to keep the venue competitive, but their primarily tenant, the Atlanta Falcons want a new stadium once their obligation to remain at the Georgia Dome is up in a few years. They want an open air stadium and may be willing to go for a retractable dome facility, and improvements to the Georgia Dome aren't good enough for them (the most recent renovations and upgrades to the Dome were over the last 2-4 years and were partially paid for by the Falcons. If a new stadium is built, it will be someone on the current campus of the Georgia World Congress Center, and the State Legislature has already approved an extension of the hotel-motel tax that helped pay for the venue for another 30 years (2020-2050) in order to finance either improvements to the Georgia Dome or to build a new facility on the GWCC campus.

One of the surprises is that several of the cities that hosted matches when the US held the World Cup in 1994 were eliminated from contention. Chicago, San Francisco, Orlando and Detroit were among the cities that didn't make the final cut (Charlotte, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Oakland and St. Louis were the other cities that were eliminated in the final cut as well.).

http://www.gousabid.com/news/entry/b...tee-announces-official-bid-cities/

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 8): Qatar only wants the World Cup for reasons of commerce (just like the UAE and the Club World Cup), they don't really give a damn about the sport, plus the corruption issues as well as the climate.

I don't believe that a World Cup will ever be hosted in a Muslim country. As I already wrote in another thread a few months ago: There is always a lot of alcohol involved at football tournaments, fans are walking drunk through the cities on their way to the games and from the games, they are shouting, singing, throwing bottles and cans around, etc. I don't believe that any Muslim country want to have these scenes in the streets of any of their cities.

So Qatar is already out for that reason allone.

Patrick

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 8): Qatar only wants the World Cup for reasons of commerce (just like the UAE and the Club World Cup), they don't really give a damn about the sport

Have you ever been there, spoken to locals? They are football mad! Love the game, and avid followers of the major European leagues.

signol

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 15): I don't believe that a World Cup will ever be hosted in a Muslim country. As I already wrote in another thread a few months ago: There is always a lot of alcohol involved at football tournaments, fans are walking drunk through the cities on their way to the games and from the games, they are shouting, singing, throwing bottles and cans around, etc. I don't believe that any Muslim country want to have these scenes in the streets of any of their cities.

They've already said that they'd have areas set up in which alcohol will be available to fans.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/101120...022-green-lights-israel-booze.html

I think that the summertime heat is what dooms their bid, even with the proposed cooling technology that would keep the fans and the pitch an acceptable temperature. What if said technology were to fail prior to or during match? The only way Qatar would be a viable candidate would be if the World Cup was held during a time of the year when the weather is less extreme, but that would never happen since it would severely disrupt the club seasons on nearly all of the continents. You think UEFA would want to postpone Champions League matches for a month for the World Cup? I think not.

It appears the Oceania Federation will now be casting a vote in these decisions after all, despite previous delegates ban. There are 23 vote(r)s in all.

On the face of it this would appear to benefit England for 2018 and Australia for 2022.

Quoting Severnaya (Reply 9): Interesting, do you care to elaborate? Would love to hear a reason (there are indeed many reasons).

For starters, Putin could buy the whole thing. I mean, there's no denial that Russia is a football nation, even after players stopped wearing the letters CCCP on their jerseys, but the thing is like you say corruption. I've been very critical about Sochi getting the 2016 Winter Olympics, and I'd be pretty critical about Russia hosting the World Cup. Another issue is the venues. Would Russia get its venues finished in time? I mean, pretty much the only venue that would only need minor mods is to my knowledge the Luzhniki Stadium. And it's not only the stadiums and the question of whether they'll be finished in time (and we all know the near fiasco in South Africa, plus the problems in Poland and Ukraine for Euro 2012), it's also where to host them. Which cities, apart from Moscow and St. Petersburg are suitable enough, and are they easily accesible to fans and staff (not to mention possible distances and time differences)?

Quoting signol (Reply 16): Have you ever been there, spoken to locals? They are football mad! Love the game, and avid followers of the major European leagues.

Never been there, but when I talk about football tradition, I'm talking about the local football. The locals may be football fanatic and follow the leagues in Europe, but it's also about a football nation. I mean, Qatar has never even made it to the World Cup (even the UAE accomplished this), so they'd do this just out of commerce, even if it means that their own team embarasses itself.

Quoting MillwallSean (Reply 2): Well, I for one would hate England getting it. the 1996 fans that appeared after the Euros almost destroyed our game. Face painted, calling it footy, replica-clad brigade. I hate them and what they did to my game. Luckily I am Millwall, we don't get those kind of supporters to our games.

Isn't Millwall one of the worst teams for violence?

But yeah, as a non-football fan I dread the very idea of the World Cup ever returning to England. London will be a complete nightmare to get around much like with the upcoming Olympics, and don't even get me started on the possible and very likely hooliganism for a World Cup tournament. Let's just say I will either be out of the country or hiding under a rock.

Quoting srbmod (Reply 17): They've already said that they'd have areas set up in which alcohol will be available to fans. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/101120....html

Interesting article, I didn't know that before!

But I have to say that "drinking zones" are no solution. When we had the World Cup here in Germany four years ago, the whole city (where the game took place) became a party and a drinking zone. I do not like the idea to create special zones for fans where they can drink. Furthermore is the heat an issue and so is the size of the country (how many stadiums do they have?).

These Middle-Eastern guys think that they can buy everything with their oil-money to create an artificial atmosphere so that the rest of the world thinks that they are advanced! They should finally realize that money is not everything and that their way of living is not what "normal people" want!

Quoting wildwing64 (Reply 20): Isn't Millwall one of the worst teams for violence?

Millwall is famous for their hools, even here in Germany! I would like to visit their stadium though because it is a club with much tradition.

Patrick

Edited for various mistakes, sorry!

[Edited 2010-11-28 15:54:20]

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 19): For starters, Putin could buy the whole thing. I mean, there's no denial that Russia is a football nation, even after players stopped wearing the letters CCCP on their jerseys, but the thing is like you say corruption.

Let's face reality, all countries bidding for the WC have to pay certain members off the committee to get the necessarily votes as was highlighted by some English magazine some weeks ago. Russian officials however may be more sophisticated but don't think that NL/BEL, ENG & SPA/POR are clean like the pope. And let's face reality even more, is there an organisation in the world more corrupt than FIFA? 

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 19): Would Russia get its venues finished in time? I mean, pretty much the only venue that would only need minor mods is to my knowledge the Luzhniki Stadium.

The venues are listed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_2018_FIFA_World_Cup_bid Indeed only Luzhniki Olympic sport complex requires small expansion, however i'm sure Russia will get its venues ready in time, I don't see why not. S-Korea, Japan, Germany and heck even S-Africa were able to.

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 19): Which cities, apart from Moscow and St. Petersburg are suitable enough, and are they easily accesible to fans and staff (not to mention possible distances and time differences)?

Distances are much smaller than in some other bids and almost comparable to Spain & Portugal as the majority of the stadiums is near Moscow (or within +-1500 km). The only exception is Yekaterinburg, however there exists a good infrastructure & airport. Time zone differences are very small (max Moscow+2 for SVX). If they're good accessible, I guess so, these are all >mln cities and thus have their infrastructure in order or will get them in order. Distance & time zone shall not be important as USA was able to host them in 1994 with larger distances & more time zones.

Quoting ltbewr (Reply 4): I would like to see the USA get another shot, with the final match in the 'new' Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey (only 10 miles from NY City, a replacement of Giants Stadium and with rail service to the site). Most of the match sites should be concentrated in the Northeastern USA (Washington, DC area, Phildelphia, NY/NJ) especially the later rounds, with early rounds including Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago.

Quoting Mir (Reply 5): You have to include LA and Seattle in that as well - those are big soccer cites.

L.A. is, by far, the biggest soccer city in the US. It also, very successfully, was the center of the action for the 1994 World Cup. The final should absolutely be held here. Hell, they will even have to bring in temporary grass just to make the new Giants Stadium compliant.

Agreed on Seattle, which is probably the number two soccer market in the US outside Los Angeles.

Quoting scbriml (Reply 13): The daytime temperature would be around 45C. BUT, I believe the Qatar bid includes fully air-conditioned stadia. In other words, indoor football. Playing outside, even in the evenings/at night, would not be feasible during summer.

Yeah. Its completely unacceptable. I think it is more a publicity ploy for Qatar.

Quoting srbmod (Reply 14): They've included the Rose Bowl and L.A. Memorial Coliseum in the bid packet and as is currently stands, those venues would see renovations for the 2022 World Cup

I don't see why the Rose Bowl would need too much done for it. Association Football stadia are not as crazy with the gadgets as are American Football stadia. I do think that the proposed Downtown or Industry stadia would be the perfect hosts for the final.

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 15): I don't believe that a World Cup will ever be hosted in a Muslim country. As I already wrote in another thread a few months ago: There is always a lot of alcohol involved at football tournaments, fans are walking drunk through the cities on their way to the games and from the games, they are shouting, singing, throwing bottles and cans around, etc.

I really don't see that as an issue.

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 21): When we had the World Cup here in Germany four years ago, the whole city (where the game took place) became a party and a drinking zone.

Sorry, but when is Germany not a drinking zone?  

Quoting N1120A (Reply 23): Hell, they will even have to bring in temporary grass just to make the new Giants Stadium compliant.

To be fair, football can be very tough on a grass field in climates that actually get a winter, so I understand the decision to use turf in the new Meadowlands (though I would still prefer grass).

-Mir

Quoting N1120A (Reply 23): I really don't see that as an issue.

In Dubai you get arrested when you are walking visibly drunk through the streets. I can imagine that other countries in the region have similar laws.

Quoting Mir (Reply 24): Sorry, but when is Germany not a drinking zone?

Actually you are right!  

Patrick

And more corruption allegations: http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/fif...echsten-schwarzen-schafe-1.1029720

2018 & 2022 will be a nice continuation of

Quoting Severnaya (Reply 27): And more corruption allegations: http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/fif...echsten-schwarzen-schafe-1.1029720 2018 & 2022 will be a nice continuation of

I already heard that in the radio news earlier today and it doesn't suprise me the slightest. The FIFA is a mafia-like organization, they are corrupter than some government employee in Nigeria.

Patrick

Quoting Mir (Reply 24): To be fair, football can be very tough on a grass field in climates that actually get a winter, so I understand the decision to use turf in the new Meadowlands (though I would still prefer grass).

That's why there is a great tradition of groundskeepers in sports.

BTW, the World Cup can't be played on artificial turf (it can be played on the stuff where real grass is strengthened by artificial), so they have already provisioned Giants Stadium for interchangeable turf.

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 25): In Dubai you get arrested when you are walking visibly drunk through the streets. I can imagine that other countries in the region have similar laws.

Such laws are also selectively enforced. I would imagine that Qatar would keep their cops on their best behavior.

Quoting MillwallSean (Reply 2): Well, I for one would hate England getting it. the 1996 fans that appeared after the Euros almost destroyed our game. Face painted, calling it footy, replica-clad brigade. I hate them and what they did to my game. Luckily I am Millwall, we don't get those kind of supporters to our games.

hilarious. where to start?

football hooligan culture existed in england throughought the 80's euro 96 had nothing to do with it!

and millwall? they were one of the worst around, and still are whenever a grudge match pops up!
http://www.football-hooligans.org/millwall-bushwackers-hooligans.html

Quoting N1120A (Reply 23): L.A. is, by far, the biggest soccer city in the US.

Not that that's saying much. And even then that's mainly because of the area's Mexican populous along with the fact that, much like MLB, the NHL and the NBA, the league has two franchises in the market. The Galaxy tried and failed to make Beckham out as being the Wayne Gretzky of MLS, and now from what I hear, some folks only go to games because Justin Bieber does.

Quoting Severnaya (Reply 22): And let's face reality even more, is there an organisation in the world more corrupt than FIFA?

IOC?

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 21): These Middle-Eastern guys think that they can buy everything with their oil-money to create an artificial atmosphere so that the rest of the world thinks that they are advanced! They should finally realize that money is not everything and that their way of living is not what "normal people" want!

Look no further than the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 for a contradiction of your idealism. Just dump enough $$$ in proper places and anything can happen... who cares it's in the middle of a desert, scorched by sun, absent of any atmosphere, dead silent tribunes and winners of the race popping a bottle of "champagne" which looked like it was water.

Quoting Severnaya (Reply 27): And more corruption allegations: http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/fif...29720

That's getting ridiculous. Someone needs to go through that lot with a broom and sweep out the lot, starting right from the top!

Quoting L410Turbolet (Reply 31): absent of any atmosphere, dead silent tribunes

I was there, and whilst I agree with your other points about heat and "champagne", these two were false. There was a fantastic atmosphere amongst the fans, from all over the world, and plenty of cheering in the stands. The sheer noise of the cars would drown out any other sound though!

signol

Quoting signol (Reply 33): There was a fantastic atmosphere amongst the fans, from all over the world, and plenty of cheering in the stands.

Sure did not seem that way on TV.. certainly not compared with the Brazilian GP few weeks earlier.

I would prefer if my hometown Minneapolis was one of the venues for the World Cup if the U.S. got it in 2022, but oh well. If the U.S. gets in 2022 I'll just fly to one of the cities.

Quoting L410Turbolet (Reply 31): IOC

  

So sad, but so true. The stories that come from within the IOC are an earful, I'll tell you that.

Aeroflot777

Quoting b78710 (Reply 29): hilarious. where to start? football hooligan culture existed in england throughought the 80's euro 96 had nothing to do with it!

Erh, try re-reading the post you were responding to. It had nothing to do with hooliganism.

Personally, I think the whole "Sit down, shut up, applaud as required", along with some skyrocketing season ticket prices, is what has doomed the UK football scene in most recent years. At least at the top flights. Lower divisions fortunately appear to have been spared that abomination.

Quoting CPH-R (Reply 37): Personally, I think the whole "Sit down, shut up, applaud as required", along with some skyrocketing season ticket prices, is what has doomed the UK football scene in most recent years. At least at the top flights. Lower divisions fortunately appear to have been spared that abomination.

Thank you. My sentiments exactly.

Sabena332 if you ever want to go down The New Den do PM me and ill give you some sound advice on where to drink and what to expect.

Otherwise I agree with our Russian poster, there are few more corrupt organisations than FIFA.
Jack Warner is still there...
The Qatari that runs the Asian Football Federation, lovely chap.

Qatar as a candidate feels real weird though. Sure its a modern state and for arabs fairly liberal. But its size. I mean there is Doha. One city where all games would take place. 80% of the population lives there and all other towns are way to small to house anything. Greater Doha, home to 1 million people, will build 8 or 10 world cup stadiums and house 100.000-200.000 visiting supporters on a daily basis. The need of zones for alcohol to house those hoards of supporters wont be unnoticeable nor will it be easy to house them.
Add on the realistic chance of Israel qualifying ( 25.000 odd Israeli supporters brandishing Israeli flags drinking and dancing around Doha square...)
Somehow that equation just doesn't work for me. If Qatar gets the cup something is very very wrong.

For those talking about the world cup in the US. Supporters need to travel between the cities where games are staged. Dont forget this, having one game in New York followed by another in Miami just isnt what football is about. We must think of the supporters.
And hello Atlanta, you cant be serious - after the complete mismanagement of the Olympics and having a downtown as lively as Antarctica after 19.00 it just cant even be considered for hosting games. No matter how much money Coke throws at the games.
Dallas was a big big problem last time. Germany almost collapsed during the latter stages of their game against Bolivia due to the heat and the swedes couldn't breath properly in the 45 degree heat that Dallas saw during the 94 world cup. Not a good place for football temperature-wise.

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 27): I already heard that in the radio news earlier today and it doesn't suprise me the slightest. The FIFA is a mafia-like organization, they are corrupter than some government employee in Nigeria.

As long as we won't hear any Vuvuzela at the next world cups, its fine for me!

I read that Blatter has decided to sit out the recent allegations, so he'll do absolutely nothing about it. Oh well, just another confirmation that this whole decision about the upcoming two World Cups tomorrow is a farce.

Looks like Australia has lost it according to the announcement that our World Cup would supposedly make the least amount of money of them all.

Perhaps we should withdraw our bid ahead of the announcement.   Seems really predictable.

Quoting ltbewr (Reply 4): Most of the match sites should be concentrated in the Northeastern USA (Washington, DC area, Phildelphia, NY/NJ) especially the later rounds, with early rounds including Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago.

Quoting Mir (Reply 5): You have to include LA and Seattle in that as well - those are big soccer cites.

Don't forget Boston! Gillette Stadium is along a rail line that is already used for sporting events and may have full-time commuter rail to Boston South Station by then. It could also serve special trains from PVD airport and the Providence Train Station if it wouldn't serve them full-time already.

So I'm thinking Washington, Boston, LA, and Seattle in the quarterfinals with NYC for the championship.

Quoting MillwallSean (Reply 38): Dallas was a big big problem last time. Germany almost collapsed during the latter stages of their game against Bolivia due to the heat and the swedes couldn't breath properly in the 45 degree heat that Dallas saw during the 94 world cup. Not a good place for football temperature-wise.

The new Cowboys Stadium would almost certainly be included, and is climate controlled but still has a little sun (so God can watch, after all :-P). I'm sure they can swap out their junk artificial pitch for a grass one.

Quoting MillwallSean (Reply 38): Dont forget this, having one game in New York followed by another in Miami just isnt what football is about. We must think of the supporters.

This happens at every World Cup now. You can concentrate the group stage regionally, then set sort of a regional "hub" for Round of 16, etc.

Quoting BOStonsox (Reply 42): So I'm thinking Washington, Boston, LA, and Seattle in the quarterfinals with NYC for the championship.

No. Boston, East Rutherford, Seattle and Washington for the quarters and L.A. for the championship.

[Edited 2010-12-01 09:03:09]

Quoting wildwing64 (Reply 30): Not that that's saying much.

Actually, these days, it is. And it is saying a lot when it comes to hosting the World Cup.

Quoting wildwing64 (Reply 30): And even then that's mainly because of the area's Mexican populous along with the fact that, much like MLB, the NHL and the NBA, the league has two franchises in the market.

1) Who cares about the reason. Not only do Mexican's support football, they also inspire others to do so. Plus, other large ethnic groups, like Iranians, French and Germans also fuel that fire. As does the massive youth soccer movement here, which is able to play year round.

2) The league has two franchises specifically because of the market's strength. Ever wonder why New Jersey doesn't have 2 teams?

Quoting wildwing64 (Reply 30): and now from what I hear, some folks only go to games because Justin Bieber does.

That's garbage hearsay.

Quoting wildwing64 (Reply 30): The Galaxy tried and failed to make Beckham out as being the Wayne Gretzky of MLS

People here are smart enough to know what Beckham is - and isn't. He is popular for the same reasons he was popular in Europe after his ability started to wane - women love him and men secretly want to be him. He is also an incredibly solid player who downplays his flaws and gets the most out of what he still does really well.

No, Beckham isn't the best footballer off all time and he didn't come to L.A. in his prime, but the fact that the Galaxy were the only franchise that had any chance of landing him has to tell you something.

I think Cowboys Stadium would be perfect for a World Cup final, mostly because being a retractable roof stadium, they could put in a natural grass field, open the roof during non-game time hours for the grass to grow, and close the roof for a true climate-controlled experience of 20 °C. during the match. And it can seat 80,000 in all-seater configuration, which makes it very viable for a World Cup final.

Besides, I have concerns that because New Meadowslands Stadium--being an open-air stadium--could be frighteningly hot (imagine temperatures in July just under 40 °C. with 70% or higher humidity!), which could be potentially very dangerous for soccer players who have to run close to non-stop for two 45 minute halves.

Quoting RayChuang (Reply 45): Besides, I have concerns that because New Meadowslands Stadium--being an open-air stadium--could be frighteningly hot (imagine temperatures in July just under 40 °C. with 70% or higher humidity!), which could be potentially very dangerous for soccer players who have to run close to non-stop for two 45 minute halves.

It rarely ever gets that hot in NYC in the summer. It's hot, but not that hot.

As for Dallas hosting the final - forget it. There are only three potential places for that - DC, NYC and LA.

-Mir

Just a couple of hours to go now. Obviously I'd like to see the US get it, but Australia seems like a dark-horse candidate that no ones talking about about. I think Qatar will run in to trouble due to the fact that their bid relies on unproven technology, and there's just no way I see Japan or South Korea winning it again so soon. As for 2018, I'd probably go with Spain & Portugal.

There has been much media coverage here today of Australia's admittedly cringeworthy official presentation video (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/02/3082882.htm - video available at link). I think I've now lost almost all hope of us getting it.

Quoting bookishaviator (Reply 48): There has been much media coverage here today of Australia's admittedly cringeworthy official presentation video (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/02/3082882.htm - video available at link). I think I've now lost almost all hope of us getting it.

There is much more to things than a video. We've got the facilities already, along with the experience in running huge events.

What we don't have, and what no video can fix is that our island is in the wrong time zone. Which means that Europeans have to miss out on sleep, and we can't have that, can we?

Hence why Australia will never, ever host a world-cup.