The future of FIFA World Cup

With the success of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which broke barriers and records, several countries are now bidding to organize and host the 2018 and 2022 editions.

Eleven bids were submitted in 2009, covering 13 nations, with two joint bids: Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain. Mexico also submitted a bid, but withdrew theirs in 2009, while Indonesia had their bid rejected for lack of government support.

For 2018 and 2022

England

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said he would welcome a 2018 bid from "the homeland of football." England has previously hosted the 1966 World Cup which it won and Euro '96, as well as previously bidding for the 2006 World Cup. Should England succeed, it would be the sixth nation to host the World Cup for a second time.

United States

With all good audience results, soccer gaining more popularity and supported by the financial and attendance records of previous hosted 1994 FIFA World Cup, the United States are going to be a big England's competitor for the 2018 bidding. The US Soccer has submitted two bids: one for 2018 and in case they don't get it, another for 2022. The 18 host cities were already chosen: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington DC.

Russia

Russia comes strong for the bidding due to the FIFA's rotation policy. However, they are not as well structured as the USA and England, but the country is ready to spend some $10 billion on the tournament, especially to build stadiums following FIFA standards. Russia hopes to have five stadiums fit to host World Cup matches ready by 2013, which will be used for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Portugal and Spain

The joint-venture consists in Spain leading a 12-stadium project with eight of the venues, and the opening and final games would be held in Lisbon and Madrid, respectively. Spain has previously hosted the 1982 World Cup, while Portugal organized the Euro 2004. If the Portuguese-Spanish joint bid succeeds, Spain would become the sixth nation to host the World Cup for a second time.

 

Belgium and the Netherlands

Using the same model as per Portugal and Spain, Belgium and Netherlands would share the building of stadiums which comply with FIFA standards. Luxembourg will also help in the World Cup organization in case the bid is the winner, however it will not host any game neither be automatically qualified for the event.

 

 

 

For 2022 only

Australia

Initially Australia confirmed a bid for 2018, which was eventually withdrew months later. One possible stumbling block to the bid is that almost all of Australia's largest stadiums are used by other major Australian sports (Australian Football and Rugby) whose domestic seasons overlap with the World Cup. Australia has hosted several tournaments: U-20 Soccer World Cup, 2000 Summer Olympics, 2003 Rugby World Cup among others.

 

Japan

Japan is bidding to become the first Asian country to host the World Cup twice; they co-host the 2002 World Cup with South Korea. They have also withdrew the bid for 2018 and analysts say that their chances for 2022 are very low as well.

 

South Korea

As their previous partner of 2002 World Cup, South Korea has put forth an offer to host the 2022 edition. Due to the rotation policy and FIFA willing to take soccer to places that it needs to be developed, the likelihood is not good for South Korea's (and Japan's) bid.

 

 

Qatar

Qatar is attempting to become the first Arab nation to host the World Cup. Qatar is planning to promote this bid as an Arab unity bid and hope to draw on support from the entire Arab world, and are positioning this as an opportunity to bridge the gap between the Arab and Western worlds. Some concerns with Qatar's bid deal with the extreme temperatures especially in June and July, but according to them, this is not a problem at all, stadiums with controlled temperature will be built, once they win the bid for 2022.

Canada Soccer Association was also willing to pull together a bid for 2022 edition. With the expectation that the United States will land the 2018 or 2022 event, while other continents will also get to host it as it rotates from one region to another, they decided that it does not worth to move forward with an official bid. However, the 2015 Women's World Cup is more likely.

Whether Canada's chances to host or not a World Cup is low, I do hope see Canada team being part of the 32 nations in Brazil 2014.

About Paulo Porto

Best ... 1st round ... ever!!!

For the first wave of matches, there were complaints about things like the vuvuzelas (That would be a cool band name), special children saying that "1 + 1 = Butterflies" and not 2, the Jabulani/Zamboni/Pastrami Ball, a misalignment of Neptune with Mars and a general lack of goals.

Then the drama started with all the upsets in this World Cup. I cannot think of a World Cup in the last 40 years where so many favourites and European teams started so badly or conversely where so many "No-Name" teams played so well. If anyone told me that New Zealand (!) would be undefeated at the end of the first round ... I would have asked you for some of what you were smoking ... cause it surely would have been good.

If someone had predicted that both France and Italy would have CRASHED out of the World Cup without winning a single match ... I would have said that you were dreaming in Technicolor.

Oh how I wished I was on College St Thursday to see the shattered dreams, to know that every time Slovakia scored, an angel wept in joy. Even though the Italians scored the best goal of the WC so far with Fabio Quagliarella's 91st minute finesse, it was too little, too late.

There has been a lot of other drama in this first round also. As much as the world hates to see Americans do well in football, you couldn't help but rise to your feet when watching the US v Slovenia match ... just brilliant drama! 

As for the English and their hopeful "Barmy Army", there was nothing in Rooney & Co's first round performance that suggests that the English could overcome yet another meeting with their Argentine nemesis in the quarterfinals, provided that they were to possibly beat Germany.

Right now, we are on for possibly the greatest final ever ... Brazil v Argentina for all the marbles. My fingers, toes and future children's toes will be crossed in the hope of witnessing this possible miracle, as I am sure millions of Argentines are walking, thumbing those rosaries to death, while millions of Brazilians are happy digesting their Feijoada and Flan in anticipation of this event.

While this is all happening, let's not forget the second coming of the Spanish Inquisition, if "Las Furias Rojas" doesn't beat Chile by more goals than Switzerland is expected to beat Honduras by. The Spanish are also teetering on the Italian/French precipice!

I guess Spain can no longer be considered as the leader in the Choker World Cup standing ... and if they did choke, they aren't the abject failures that the French and Italian football teams were.

About Rishi Sankar

France: Heartbreak on King St.

As I walk from Spadina Subway Station to the Alliance Francaise de Toronto, I realize the dreary weather seems to reflect the feelings of France supports in Toronto and abroad.  The past two games have seen France fans support their team in droves.  Much like their attitudes at the time, it was sunny and warm outside as fans made their way to watch the afternoon games.  Now, things are just dreary.

As a registered charity, the Alliance Francaise de Toronto dedicates itself to promoting French language and culture.  This also includes their national teams and I have been told that the walls of the Spadina location were packed the previous two games with France supporters watching on a projector screen in the main gallery.

Kick-off nears and only a handful of people are in attendance. Slight panic sets in among the few when it is realized that the Uruguay vs Mexico game is being shown on CBC.  Cooler heads luckily prevail as the channel is switched to the CBC's French station that is televising the match.

The match is underway and it doesn't take long to see and hear the feelings of the France supporters.  Frustration, demoralization and anxiety runs high in a room that is otherwise used for meetings and a picture gallery.  Other than the announcer, frustrated sighs and grunts are the only noises heard as fans sit cross armed in displeasure.

South Africa scores off a free-kick and moral in the room begins deflating.  Not long after, almost all confidence is lost when France, in my opinion, is harshly reduced to ten-men.  Yoann Gourcuff is given a straight red card for leading with his arm in a 50/50 header challenge.  Not long after that, the hosts score again and France is down 2-0.  France has to win by a large margin to even have a chance at moving on to the next round and supporters in the Alliance are completely shocked.  Some fans simply get up and leave without a word.

As the closing minutes of the half are played, I decide to use the half-time break to commute to King St. to see what is happening at the hub of France supporters in the city.  Leaving, I get a couple smiles and nods.  One well-dressed man even comes up to me and says that no one wants to watch anymore anyway because supporters are disgusted with the coach who should have been fired two years ago. I shake his hand good-bye and head southbound.

At Le Saint Tropez, there is a larger group of supporters.  Many are answering questions from television media about their feelings on the game.  I have seen France games here before and it is decibels quieter now.  Everyone seems to have come to the realization that their team is going to be eliminated in just over 30 minutes.

Suddenly, the satellite feed cuts out and the picture and sound turns into hosts in the studio apologizing for the technical complications.  Some life though is brought back into the France fans when it is announced that France has scored to make the game 2-1.  The picture comes back eventually and the game is played out.

The match ends with no further goals scored.  Uruguay and Mexico are moving onto the next round and South Africa and France are eliminated.  The history has been written for Group A.  I filter out of Le Saint Tropez and walk towards St. Andrew Subway Station.  When I get to a red light, I look back.  There are no people blowing whistles, waving flags or cheering on the streets or sidewalks.  On this dreary day in Toronto, for France fans, there is no party on King St.

About Stephen D'Angelo

France: Do you believe?

After France's 2-0 loss to Mexico, Les Bleus coach Raymond Domenech put the future hopes of France's 2010 World Cup campaign in the hands of the Soccer Gods by stating  that "we need a miracle now."

This leaves Toronto's France supporters doing the math.  France will have to convincingly beat South Africa in their final group match to boost their goal differential and will have to hope Mexico and Uruguay do not draw in their match.

It would be agreed that the entire French Football Federation, including the players, coaching staff and everyone involved in the organization, needed to band together for any hope of this happening.  Instead, everything seems to have completely disintegrated for France during this crisis.

Nicolas Anelka has been sent home following an argument with Domenech as he refused to apologize for apparently verbally abusing the coach.  The players have refused to train during a practice session in protest of Anelka's expulsion from the tournament and French captain Patice Evra and fitness coach had to be separated during a yelling match when the news reached staff.

Following the news of player dissent, the FFF managing director, Jean-Louis Valentin, said he would be quitting his post due to the scandal.

Even before the tournament, drama was in full bloom in France's camp.  Fans were openly criticizing Domenech for leading France to only one-point at Euro 2008.  Because of this, it was announced before the World Cup began that he would be replaced upon completion of the tournament.  Furthermore, it was suggested that veterans such as Ribery and Anelka were refusing to pass to younger players on the team during friendlies as they were trying to convince the coach that veteran players should be playing more.

For France's final Group A match, captain Patrice Evra has called his teammates to arms to redeem their honour and pride on Tuesday against South Africa.  But, whether it was purposeful or not, there was one more disagreement that came to light between the coaching staff and players;  Evra told the press that he does not believe in miracles.

About Stephen D'Angelo

World Cup: Top 10 moments so far

For those who were complaining about lack of emotion, here it is. A second round full of emotion as I had imagined in this post. Maybe the net wasn't hit by the ball as many times as we would like to see, but, the World Cup is not only about a ball and the net. This first week was marked by historical moments that will stay forever on people's minds all around the World. Here are my top 10 moments of this World Cup so far:

10. Robert Green, England's goalie wrote his name onto the list of blundering England goalkeepers, after his gaffe in the game between England x USA

09. The noisiest World Cup ever, thanks to vuvuzelas

08. France was losing the game against Mexico, and Thierry Henry who is one of the best strikers in the world, sits on the bench. (can someone explain why, please?)

07. Drogba entering in the second half of the match, 11 days after he had his arm broken.

06. Serbia team listening their anthem as an independent country for the very first time in a World Cup

05. Slovenia won their first match in the history of World Cups (Algeria 0-1 Slovenia)

04. Greece scored and won for the very first time in the history of World Cups (Nigeria 1-2 Greece)

03. Switzerland celebration after beating Spain (Nothing against Spain, but it was an incredible emotion for the swiss)

02. The striker Jong Tae Se crying during the execution of the North Korean anthem

01. The photo of a North Korean fan holding a sign which says: "Forget politics for 90 mins".

And what are your top 10 moments of this World Cup so far?

About Paulo Porto

How to pick a European winner 101

With the recent spate of surprising results

• Italy : Paraguay - 1:1
• Mexico : France - 2:0
• Spain : Switzerland - 0:1
• Serbia : Germany - 1:0
• Greece : Nigeria - 2:1 (If the Greeks thought that they could actually win a match, then there must have been some ouzo in that tsatsiki)

I've determined a formula on figuring out whether a European team will win their next group match. Take the Euro, then determine a country's relative GDP in comparison to overall European economy. The higher the relative GDP, the lower is that country's chance of winning a match.

How else can one explain Germany losing to Serbia and the Greeks winning anything but the lottery? :D

If one doesn't like this theory of football predictive analytics, I have heard that Maggie the Monkey is looking for work - she is excellent in hockey picks, stock analysis and manages Hedge Funds in her spare time.

BTW what a comeback! Who knew the Americans had that spirit! Best game of the World Cup so far but Honduras isn't looking that bad right, are they? 

About Rishi Sankar

France: Calm before the storm on King St.

 

An hour before kick-off, I sit at the corner of King and John watching the world go by.  Cars pass with window flags of the nations involved in the World Cup, showing the diversity of the fans within the city. 

Slowly but surely, I see France supporters walking towards bars and restaurants that are showing the France vs Mexico match on their television screens.  In ones and twos and even threes, France supporters trickle into Le Saint Tropez, Marcel's Bistro and Zazou Lounge.

Supporters sound excited as many are debating tactics for the match and the results of other games.  I hear a pair speaking about Uruguay and how they dominated the South African team the day before.  They believe that France can sit beside them at the top of Group A in a few hours. Everyone seems to know that this is a crucial match in the group stage.

France paraphernalia is being sold on the street and supporters grab mini-flags, wristbands, stickers and key-chain whistles with the le nouveau logo of the French Football Federation prominently displayed.  Some supporters are eager to buy the bleu, blanc et rouge merchandise while others politely decline.

It is almost time for kick-off and France supporters are still making their way to watch the match as they walk with a look of determination on their faces to get to a television before the game begins.  I am sure that most are missing work to watch and are intent on seeing it from start to finish.  I hear a wave of excitement from inside Marcel's.  The game has begun.

About Stephen D'Angelo

France: Time to to take the offence

Uruguay has beaten South Africa and now sits alone at the top of Group A with 4 points.  France next plays Mexico and will have to look for the win. International veterans such as Henry, Anelka, Ribery, and Evra will have to lead Les Bleus by example as they go for goal.

I am predicting an offensive game where France will come out strong from the start. This tactic will keep Mexico on their heels.  I believe France can control the game this way because, on average, they have more skilled individual players than Mexico. 

Don't get me wrong though, Mexico is a force that should not be taken for granted; they have shown offence of their own within the first game of the tournament, scoring against South Africa. Furthermore, if France is focusing on offence, this can lead to some vulnerability in defence.

Manager Raymond Domenech, in a sense, has nothing to lose as he is being replaced after the tournament and has already led his team to as many points as they obtained in Euro 2008.

France will be feeling the pressure for a win by their supporters, both at home and abroad, and I believe they will rise to the occasion.

Prediction: 2-1 win for France

Allez Les Bleus!!

About Stephen D'Angelo

France: Future waits in the wings

When Karim Benzema signed with Real Madrid from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2009, there were high hopes for the youthful Frenchman.  The Spanish giants were securing the future of their offence by buying one of the most talented young strikers in the world.  Unfortunately for Benzema, his transfer was eclipsed by the arrival of Kaka and Ronaldo in Madrid.

At a match between Real Madrid and Toronto FC at BMO Field, Benzema thrilled fans by scoring and helping his team win 5-1.  The future looked bright for the one who many thought was the future of France's international squad, following in the footsteps of brilliant France strikers like Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.

During his first season with Real Madrid, in all competition, the 22-year-old only started 17 games and came off the bench as a substitute 15 times.  With this limited time on the pitch, he was able to score nine goals in all competition.

Many believe that because of his lack of play during the domestic season, the once Player of the Year and Top Goalscorer in Ligue 1 found that he was left out of the 2010 World Cup France squad.  France coach Raymond Domenech claimed that Benzema's exclusion from the team was due to his poor form at Real Madrid during the season, though there were rumours of problems off the pitch as well.

France, now tied with the rest of Group A with 1 point, has to focus on scoring to ensure they obtain 3 points against Mexico on Thursday.  If they do not, the stress of France supporters across Toronto will be at feverish levels.  Will excluding Benzema from Team France be a regret for Raymond Domenech?

Write me your thoughts. Should Benzema have been given the chance to gain World Cup experience? Will this affect his future international career with Les Bleus? Tell me what you think.

About Stephen D'Angelo

How to dress like Team France

Walking around neighborhoods within Toronto, the popularity of soccer is evident.  This popularity is always boosted when a major international tournament, such as the European or World Cup, is being played.  As people of all ages head to patches of grass to play pick-up, many are also flocking to restaurants and bars to watch the matches. 

While recreational players pretend to be their heroes by wearing their jerseys, fans watching the games will purchase similar swag, along with scarves and flags, of their favourite teams.  This made me ask the question "how popular is France apparel in Toronto?"

I was able to speak to Rachel Taylor of L & M Taylor Soccer (2046 Yonge St.) and ask that very question.  It turns out that France apparel is extremely popular in Toronto.  Leading up to the World Cup, France supporters were regular customers and L & M Taylor quickly sold out of France apparel.  Knowing that sales would continue, they restocked their shelves of Les Bleus attire and sales of France items continue to be strong.

While joining France supporters during the Uruguay game, I noticed that many were wearing jerseys of their heroes, both old and new.  Bayern Munich's Franck Ribéry and Bordeaux's Yoann Gourcuff were represented, but I asked Rachel whose was the most requested player jersey from her store.  Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka and Barcelona's Thierry Henry are both extremely popular. 

One name that I was surprised about, which really should not be a surprise, was Zinedine Zidane.  There are still regular requests for his name and number printed on the backs of new jerseys.  As the tournament continues, I have no doubts that France supporters will continue to buy their national team's apparel, ensuring the colours of blue, white and red are represented strongly in Toronto.

About Stephen D'Angelo