In 2022, Qatar will become the first Middle Eastern nation to host the FIFA World Cup. Smallest country ever to host. Qatar is smaller than Connecticut. The nation has never qualified for a World Cup. 2022 will be Qatar's first World Cup, as an automatic qualifier.
"Oil and natural gas won today. This was not about merit, this was about money."
- Former U.S. Men's National Team star, Eric Wynalda
Qatar will budget $50 billion for infrastructure upgrades and an additional $4 billion on nine new stadiums and renovations to three existing facilities. More intriguing is the advantage of a small nation and locality of its stadiums - all twelve stadiums will be located within thirty minutes of one another.In a video produced by the Wall Street Journal, FIFA President Sepp Blatter, initially mentioning the success the World Cup in the United States and Major League Soccer, emphasizes the problems with American soccer. He includes the lack of all soccer specific stadiums, failure to adopt the international calendar, and inability to attract top talent. Simply put, the MLS "not credible," as American born players leave to play with clubs abroad. Additionally, Blatter has not hidden his distaste for the Major League Soccer's closed league system.
The United States spent millions of dollars on its bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. It was clear that presentation and marketing was not the key to victory, nor was celebrity influence. The USA utitlized former President Clinton, Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman, former Women's National Team star Mia Hamm, and Men's National Team star Landon Donovan. England produced superstar David Beckham, Prime Minister David Cameron, as well as Prince William.
What has history shown?
Brazil will join Italy, Mexico, and France as the only nations to host the FIFA World Cup on two occasions. From those statistics, it may not come as a surprise that the United States was not granted its second World Cup. Brazil, who will host in 2014, last hosted in 1950. Italy hosted the Cup in 1990 and 1934. France hosted in 1998 and 1938. Mexico hosted in 1970 and 1986.
If history teaches us anything, with the exception of the Americans' southern neighbors, the FIFA World Cup will not revisit the United States until 2050 or 2054.
The 2026 will allow the nations of Europe (England, Portugal/Spain, and Belgium/Netherlands) and the United States to re-apply for the right to host the world's largest sporting event.
As it appears it is FIFA's goal to bring the World Cup to "new lands", and it may be premature, but all bets are on Netherlands and Belgium to co-host in 2026. England may have to put its aspirations to host until 2034 as a single continent may not host consecutive tournaments.
Moral of the story?
Always find a scapegoat. Maybe it was Morgan Freeman's fault.
