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FIFA Announcement: Russia to Host 2018 World Cup; Qatar to Host in 2022
The results of the FIFA World Cup bids have been announced. Russia will host the World Cup in 2018 and Qatar will host in 2022.
Russia beat odds-on favorite England as well as potential co-hosts Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain, while Qatar upset the USA, Japan, Australia, and South Korea[/B] to secure the World Cup.
Selecting Russia over England meant believing that Russia can overcome major obstacles, such as lack of infrastructure, institutionalized government corruption and a sheer lack of stadiums, in order to host a sporting event that dwarfs the Olympic Games.
While England's bid was primarily emotional, focusing on the transformational power of soccer, Russia's bid was more about the economic power of soccer, and how it could boost Russia's economy closer to those of its neighbors. Russia pulled off its bid without the presence of PM Vladimir Putin, who pulled out after saying that the FIFA bids were "an unfair competition". Will he retract that statement now?
Qatar's bid was even more bizarre, hinged on technology that does not yet exist to cool stadiums not yet built (temperatures reach 50C/122F), in a nation where alcohol is illegal nearly everywhere.
Unanswered is the question of what Qatar will do if Israel somehow qualifies for the 2022 World Cup. Not that Israel is an international soccer powerhouse, but between now and 022, who knows? Qatar does not recognize Israel as a country. However, one thing that Qatar does have is money. Lots and lots of money, courtesy of the Qatari royal family, and ultimately FIFA could not say no. Hosting the World Cup in the Middle East for the first time was most likely secondary.
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