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

Je suis triste...

It's tough to write about a loss that sends your team home. Especially when your team dominated the game. In the pouring rain. It came as a surprise to me that the climate would be cold and wet in Africa!

The South Korean team put up a valiant effort put came up just short. Our team needed another superstar attacker who could create more chances and finish off a play. Uruguay played a decent game and capitalized on key opportunities. Uruguay has South Korea's number- they have never lost to them in four previous international matches. Good luck to Uruguay in the round of 8.

My prediction for the winner of the 2010 World Cup is Argentina. Their offense is amazing and perhaps their coach is their lucky charm. I wonder if he was 20 pounds lighter, he would have the pomposity to insert himself in play. 

I wonder if the Azzurri, Azzurri learned the finer aspects of the game from Maradona:

Italians soccer practice...how to win a World Cup!

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

South Korea: Onward!

    Fighting! Fighting! MAHN-SAAAAAY!

Can you believe it? South Korea has advanced to the round of 16!

Tough match Tuesday: the Nigerians had glorious chances that they couldn't capitalize on.

Thank you Mr.Yukubu, I think you may need some glasses.

And I'd like to thank Mr. Park Chu-Young on his free kick that bent just inside the far post. Fantastico!

It could well have been their day but I guess luck was on the Red Devils side.

Thankfully, Argentina did their part in dismantling Greece 2-0. 

I predicted 3-1 for Korea in my last blog.

The next round against 16th ranked Uruguay will be tough. It won't be an impossible task but let's pray that

all the lucky bounces will go Korea's way. The South Americans have a winning record against Korea, so it

will take something special to defeat them.

I made a bet that Korea would get further than Italy in the World Cup. Viva Slovakia!

Be prepared on June 26th for the second coming of the Korean tidal wave!

Put your hands together and repeat after me, Dear Lord...

About Jim Lee

South Korea: Recipe for success?

An interesting scenario has developed for the South Korean team. Since Greece beat Nigeria, Korea now needs to beat Nigeria to continue into the second round. That will be a likely scenario as Nigeria has nothing to play for so to speak, whereas this is a must win for the Red Devils. I highly doubt that Greece will beat Argentina in their last game, which would conclude with Korea and Argentina advancing into the second round.

The Koreans were not at their best today. But I do wonder if they are saving their best for next Tuesday when they play an inferior group in Nigeria. It was a pleasure to watch Messi- unbelievable play-making skills. Mr.Hat Trick Higuain and Tevez are also impressive- so much so that Milito did not have to play. Messi did remind me of Maradona in his heyday. Speaking of him, Maradona needs a filter between his brain and mouth. Stating that Pele needs to go back to the museum is ridiculous and pompous.

For the next Korean game, I highly suggest you prepare some Korean BBQ! Go to the nearest Korean grocery store near you and ask for KALBI. KALBI is also known as beef short ribs. Make sure it's already marinated. It's about $4-$5 a pound. Grab some lettuce and wrap some rice and kalbi in it like a pita wrap and scarf it down in one shot. For traditionalists, you can add hot red bean paste which accentuates the flavours. Like the Italians say when they eat something spectacular... OHHH, fuhgeddaboutdit.

There are Korean BBQ restos on Bloor st. between Christie and Bathurst or on Yonge st between Sheppard and Steeles. If you ever make it to Seoul, these restos are everywhere with big colour pictures to make sure you notice them. The beverage of choice to compliment this meal is SOJU. For all the young footballers, try chilled buckwheat tea... BO LEE CHA.

I will make a prediction which may make me look silly but I think South Korea will win on Tuesday 3-1.

Go Red Devils! Fighting! Fighting!

About Jim Lee

South Korea: That sinking feeling ...

South Korea fans watch their team on the TV at Clinton's on Bloor St., Thursday morning. Argentina went on to defeat Korea 4-1.

Photos by Phinjo Gombu