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

World Cup All-Star team: What's yours?

The end of the World Cup is approaching and now comes that time when everybody starts to elect the players who will be part of the FIFA’s All Star team. Normally a lot of good players are left behind, because only 11 are selected, but since the national teams are comprised of 23 players, I will give it a shot and list my 23 top players:

Formation: 4-3-3 - The World Cup new formation trend is the 4-2-3-1, but offensive football.

Goalkeepers

IKER CASILLAS (Spain) – the best goaltender of this World Cup (maybe top 3 in the World)

Backups: MAARTEN STEKELENBURG (the Netherlands); RICHARD KINGSON (Ghana) ; LUISITO SUAREZ (Uruguay) – just kidding

Defenders

PHILIPP LAHM (Germany) – Small man with a big role reputation. Very strong defensive skills. (The Argentinean Di Maria had to play in the other side of the field, because Lahm wasn't allowing him to do so).

JOHN HEITINGA (the Netherlands) – A multi-task player given his ability to play at centre-back, full-back or as a holding midfielder (Perfect in the second half against Brazil)

LUCIO (Brazil) - the sheriff. (Brazil's greatest ever defenders).

ARNE FRIEDRICH (Germany) – Very consistent and classic defender with the ability to play right back as well as in the centre.

CARLES PUYOL (Spain) – Ferocious work and talented player.

Defenders Backups: MAICON (Brazil); SERGIO RAMOS (Spain); MOREL RODRIGUEZ (Paraguay)

Midfielders

BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER (Germany) – one of the best players of this World Cup. Classic, talented and elegant midfielder, very technical defensively and offensively.

WESLEY SNEIJDER (the Netherlands)* – the Netherlands' attacking keystone. (Main responsible to the historical victory over Brazil). Another good candidate for the World Cup best player prize.

MESUT ÖZIL (Germany) – a sprightly and technically gifted playmaker. The World Cup’s revelation player.

Midfielder Backups: THOMAS MÜLLER (Germany), DE JONG (the Netherlands) ; ANDRES INIESTA (Spain); LIONEL MESSI (Argentina)

Forwards

DAVID VILLA (Spain) – cold blood striker.(Running for the best player's prize as well).

MIROSLAV KLOSE (Germany) – A perfect pivot in the attack. Precise kicks.

ARJEN ROBBEN (the Netherlands) – Lethal left leg shot from the right corner of the box.

Attackers Backups: ROBINHO (Brazil) ; LANDON DONOVAN (USA)

Coach

JOACHIM LOEW (Germany) - his team didn't play well in the semi-final which was lethal for them, however Germany had a tremendous performance during this World Cup, tactically disciplined and perfectly executed.

Auxiliary Coach: BERT VAN MARWIJK (the Netherlands)

PS - I read the post and saw the pictures of my fellow bloggers at Real Sports Bar and it seems that they had a lot of fun. I wish I was there, but unfortunately I couldn't make it.

About Paulo Porto

Spain: Scraping through

Spain endured a nervy quarter-final clash with Paraguay on their way to booking a semi-final clash with a very strong looking German team.

Paraguay have defied expectations in this tournament but Spain was one hurdle too many for this team. They, however, gave a very good account of themselves in this game and could consider themselves a tad unlucky to end up on the losing side. Spain looked laboured and were far from their free flowing best and the team that you saw during the Euros two years ago.

Based on Germany's demolition of Argentina earlier in the day, Spain definitely have their work cut out in the semi-final. Spain started again with a loose 4-3-3 formation with Iniesta on the right and Villa on his favored left side with Torres leading the line. Fernando Torres has seemed completely off colour and off the pace in this tourney but Del Bosque seems intent on sticking with him.

Spain definitely improved when Torres was taken off and Fabregas introduced. For me, Xabi Alonso had a bad game tonight. He was continuously overhitting passes and missing long passes which is his trademark. The penalty that Pique gave away was straight out of the strict "no-no" section of the coaching manual on how not to defend corners. Iker Casillas again came to Spain's rescue and showed once again why he is considered on the best goalkeepers in the world and maybe of all time. Eventually it was Villa, who else, who broke the deadlock and carried Spain to the semi-finals.

However, Spain will have to play much much better if they stand any chance of beating the Germans who seem to be getting better by the minute. If Netherlands and Spain do eventually make it to the finals, we'll be guaranteed a brand new winner to the World Cup which is fitting for the first ever World Cup to be held in Africa. Brand new host, brand new winner.

About Selwyn Frank

South America’s Tournament

Much has been said of the success of South American teams in this World Cup and with good reason. Now, after all Round of 16 matches are over and we know all the matchups for the quarter finals, it’s safe to say that regardless of what happens next or who ends up lifting the Cup on July 11th it’s been a great year and a great tournament for South America.

All five South American teams competing in the tournament made it out of the group stages. Four of those teams also finished first in their respective groups, and every quarter finals game has a South American representative, the first time that has ever happened in a World Cup. That means there could be an all-South American semi-finals and/or an all-South American final.

Paraguay already made history by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time, and Uruguay hadn’t made it this far in a World Cup since 1970. Chile is the only South American team that is already out of the Cup, but they have a lot to be proud of after showing a lot of exciting football.

I hope this is no World Cup “fluke” and South American football futbol is back at the world stage to stay. And the timing couldn’t be better: after an absence of more than 30 years, the next World Cup will be played in South America.

Now back to counting the minutes until Saturday at 10:00am ET, when Argentina will take on Germany, and to hoping we will have one all-Spanish-spoken semi-final between Argentina and either Spain or Paraguay.

Alejandro Rossano

Paraguay: Samurai Blues fall to La Guaranies

And then there were eight.

With the world's most celebrated sports tournament half way through, I can only wonder what surprises the soccer gods behold during the last two weeks.

In the words of my good friend Huzaifa Dohadwala, I’m sure you can all agree that the slogan of this World Cup should be ‘Expect the unexpected.’ And I’m sure you all know why. With the 2006 finalists making a quick exit, and organized and creative Switzerland upsetting Spain, we have witnessed some of the greatest upsets in the history of sports.

The best part? It has just begun. Paraguay has now secured their spot in the Quarters for the first time in a historic match against Japan. To be honest, I cannot fathom any other event that would give me goosebumps and make my hair sit up like the brave ten did. As the lonely walk to the penalty spot begins, the confidence and nerve possessed by the players is one out of my comprehension. Although the Paraguay and Japan teams were different in many aspects -- hailing from two totally different countries, speaking different languages, and having mastered a different style of play—they held one goal in common: put the ball at the back of the net and lift your team to heights it has never seen before.

After Komano had clipped the crossbar, Oscar Cardozo rolled home the winning spot-kick to give the South Americans a 5-3 win. Paraguay won by the narrowest of margins, but nonetheless, a win is a win. Although, I’m having difficulty understanding why so many fans criticized Japan and Paraguay’s performance. No, there were not any staggering goals scored in regulation. No, there were not any theatrics put on by world class players. No, we did not witness fancy footwork by the Ronaldos. But is that how the game must turn out every single time? Sure, it makes the game a whole lot more exciting. Although it is getting clearer day by day that the results of this tournament are getting wilder and wilder; at this stage, anything is possible.

“The game was boring,” said Alexi Lalas of ESPN. In my opinion, the results should have played out the dream match of any soccer fan. After all, how did the 2006 final turn out? Sure, the infamous head butt made things a lot more interesting, but it came down to the penalties, didn’t it?

Anyway, as Paraguay prepares to battle the likes of David Villa and Fernando Torres, it is vital that they improve in creating better opportunities to slam the ball home, rather than leaving things on the line during the penalty kicks. That should be the game plan for every team, of course. Then again, the inevitable and the unexpected is what makes the game beautiful.

It is safe to say that the World Cup is dancing to the tune of South American teams, and whether you like it or not, Spain is no exception.

About Abbas Khambati

Japan: PK is always a tough way to go...

A hard fought sloppy game for both Japan and Paraguay ended in a penalty shootout win for Paraguay... I was heartbroken and crushed after this tense defensive battle in which both teams had a few chances they should have put away.  Japan stuck to their game plan defending with all 11 players and counter attacking with pace, not the most attractive football but it does the job and it almost worked again today.

I must say I am very proud of the Samurai Blue and the fans of Japan in South Africa, in Japan and here in Toronto, we put on a good show and showed the world that there is great football in Asia.

It's always tragic for any team to lose in a penalty shootout and while neither team deserved to win,Paraguay did not deserve to lose either, so hats off to them and good luck in the next round.

This World Cup was probably the most entertaining for a Japanese fan and I look forward to cheering on Japan always and forever.

NIPPON!!!!

About Kazu Tokuyama

Paraguay: La Guaranies draw to a win

1986. 1998. 2002. And now South Africa, 2010. Paraguay has now qualified for the Round of 16th for the fourth time in their history; although this is the first time they have finished on top of their group. Paraguay looks to write history this World Cup as they will look to advance to the quarter-final for the first time against Japan, who will also be advancing through to the quarters if they emerge victorious.

"To come top of the group is very important, - but it's only a first step," said Martino after the goalless draw with New Zealand proved enough to pip the Slovakians by a point. Martino says his team have the bit between their teeth, sensing this is their big chance. "If we don't go through nobody much will remember us but if we turn in Paraguay's best ever showing then they will talk about us for a good while."

Lest we forget that Paraguay beat Brazil and Argentina on their way to the tournament. Lest we forget that La Abirroja dominated their group; the one with the defending champions, wild card New Zealand, and determined Slovakia.

With a tough opponent ahead of them, Paraguay will need every bit of that South American football swagger that they possess and use it to the fullest. It is a sentiment echoed by striker Roque Santa Cruz. "These can be historic times for us as we feel stronger than ever. We are a tight-knit group with bags of quality to get us through to the next round... South American sides have always been very talented but the work a lot of the coaches are putting in is making them stronger in terms of discipline," he continued.," the Manchester City striker said.

As the two teams prepare to battle, will La Abirroja reach the zenith, or will they fall to the Samurai warriors?

About Abbas Khambati

Paraguay: The sun rises in Asuncion

A pandemonium. Chaos. Mayhem. As Riveros went on to slam home the clincher, the Paraguayan fans – mothers and kids, seniors and teenagers- turned the city into a bedlam. Call it what you may, but these people hadn’t experienced this amount of joy in what seemed like ages.

Gathered around a small television in his modest two storey home, Jose Santiago’s family watched the game play by play until the final whistle blew. “I am so excited. I feel happy that Paraguay won. I hope they win the World Cup,” exclaimed Oscar, the youngest of Jose’s four kids. “It’s good to forget politics for a while and just have some time to ourselves. This is huge for Paraguay... they can go far in the tournament,” said Jose of Paraguay’s performance.

I, on the other hand, had the pleasure of watching the game at my South American friend’s house early in the morning. Nothing special, right? Wrong. With the luxury of illegal satellites, we wisely chose to watch the game on a South American channel. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. The ones where the commentators sound like they’re having a nervous breakdown during the most idle of plays. The only thing I was longing to hear was the vivacious GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL that South American commentators are renowned for. And what a sound it was; as Vera put the ball at the back of the net, it seemed as if a volcanic eruption had taken place in that announcer’s vocal chords.

In Asuncion, the fans rallied in the streets as the celebratory roar filled the morning air. Horns blasting, mobs of people cheered for La Abirroja, the team that has proven to the world that they can indeed progress in the tournament. As the seismic reaction dubbed down in Asuncion, the sun shone bright in the elated faces of the future generation of Paraguayan footballers. For lack of a better term, the beacon of hope for Paraguayan football. Ladies and gentlemen, the sun has risen, and it is yet to set.

About Abbas Khambati

Paraguay: No Winner? No Sweat

TTC fare: $3

Iced Tea: $2.95

Paraguay flag: $0.99

Watching the Italians react to Paraguay’s first goal while being one of only 4 Paraguayan fans going wild: PRICELESS

Why would a Paraguay supporter go to Little Italy, the home turf of Italians? Because the deafening silence of the home crowd after the long shot underdogs score is the most satisfying noise my ears have ever heard.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I enjoyed it.

And you would too. Sitting with four of my Ecuador-Paraguayan friends cheering Paraguay on while the sea of Blue and White seethed was a feeling of fulfilment beyond words.  And for those 30 or so minutes, we felt like the Kings of the World. In that bar anyway. But then again, they say what goes around, comes around, right? I’m talking about del Rossi’s goal; one that lifted Italian hopes and possibly ruptured my ear drums. Screaming would be an understatement; the Italian fans caused an earthquake in that bar. Lunging out of their chairs, they seemed to go into a state of euphoria, living up to their well earned reputation.

No, Paraguay didn’t win.

But they didn’t lose either. After a nerve-racking game, Paraguayan and Italian fans shook hands and went their separate ways. Although there was no result after the game, the game definitely lived up to its hype. There was much to celebrate as the Paraguayans held their ground against the defending champions while the Italians recovered in the second half to avoid a loss.

As for Paraguay, they proved that there is no such thing as an underdog in this World Cup. They started in great form against an experienced team and held composure throughout the game. Not only did they exude confidence by opening the scoring, but it illustrated their potential against powerhouse teams such as Italy.

 When asked about his team’s performance against Italy, Paraguayan coach Gerardo Martino responded, "We played this game equally against the current world champions," he said. "To play against a rival with such skills is a very good sign for us. It gives is a lot of confidence going ahead in this tournament.”

I’m sure all of you can agree that this tournament is turning out to be very, very interesting. With each team in Group F at one point apiece, the forthcoming games are as crucial to the fans as they are for the players. The Guaranies now take on Slovakia, who just came off a heartbreaking draw with New Zealand.  

In a city of almost 3 million and hundreds of cultures, it seemed as if I went from Asuncion to Rome in a matter of minutes. And now, Paraguay takes on the Slovaks. Let me have the honour; let’s get this party started.

About Abbas Khambati

Abject goalie brutality and those buzzing bees

Over the past three days, I've seen some really poor displays of quality goalkeeping. After watching that England/USA game, I was filled with feelings of horror, disgust and nausea all combined with the shame of a nation. After watching the Algeria/Slovenia, I felt some pity for the goalkeeper but not that much. Watching the Italy/Paraguay match felt like a kick to the gut, since the goalie tried to play Superman, when he flew through the air, but in his flailing attempt to punch the ball, he looked like a slow motion cartoon.

I'll chat about the English calamity, since that is still in the headlines. I'm surprised by the level of "support" for the goalkeeper, since the British media talking heads are usually devastating in their criticism. In the Telegraph, Michael Owen claims "Nobody should blame Robert Green for America's goal and he certainly shouldn't blame himself." Former England goalie David James claims, "We all make mistakes." while the Times bellowed "Green fingers: One disastrous spill the Yanks won’t complain about"

There seemed to be more criticism about the Rugby team than the Football team. However it seems that Robert Green's World Cup is over ... but who to throw the gloves to?

Could it be that there is something to this "it's the ball" theory? The quality of the football has been poor, aside from the German exhibition against an overage, out of depth Wallaby side, however 4-0 is still 4-0. That being said, I really hope that the next couple days brings about some quality football. The Dutch side played as poor a first half, as I've seen in the last couple years. Even the Argentines displayed panache but no killer instinct.

However from the goalie perspective, it could be worse.

The other story so far is the buzzing bees.

On many football forums, there is the presence of the "I hate the Vuvuzela" thread. Personally, I find the noise extremely annoying, but that being said, who are we to tell South Africans how to celebrate. It would be highly colonial of FIFA to do such a thing. The ICC banned drums and musical instruments for the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies and the tournament turned into a colossal failure and I for one was glad. No one should tell people how to celebrate in their own countries.

So here is my question, why can't the TV guys simply filter the sound out? With all the sound engineers and technology, why can't the buzzing sound be filtered out of the TV broadcasts?

About Rishi Sankar