2022 Qatar

[Barry the bird boggler]

From the Yahoo News site....

Qatar's grip on the rights to host the 2022 World Cup has been loosened severely after a warning from Sepp Blatter that they could be stripped of the honour of holding the tournament if they ask for a change of date.

The world of football was shocked when the Arab state was awarded the tournament ahead of bids from the USA, Australia, South Korea and Japan - particularly given that summer temperatures in Qatar regularly reach 50 degrees.

UEFA president Michel Platini has said that "you cannot possibly play football" in such conditions and has demanded that the tournament be switched to the winter.

But Blatter warned Qatar that doing so would jeopardise their hosting rights.

"For there to be a change to winter it is necessary that Qatar ask for it. They have not done so yet," he said.

"And they know if they do they risk another of the 2022 candidates bringing a challenge before FIFA, and the vote would have to be repeated."

The idea of a switch from summer to winter is already controversial, with all of Europe's biggest - and most profitable - leagues insisting that they will do everything in their power to block the tournament from happening during the normal season.

Yet Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards insisted that the World Cup cannot be played in the summer.

"It can’t be summer," said Richards. "It’s starting to seem very clear the players can’t play.

"They’re saying all the stadiums are going to be air-conditioned, but what about the fans? Where are they going to go? They can’t lay on the beach because they’ll get scorched."

The comments from Blatter, Platini and Richards suggest that something else is on the cards: political moves designed to reverse that original decision to award Qatar the right to host the tournament.

If FIFA's bigwigs agree that the tournament can't be held in Qatar in summer, either the host nation or the time of year will have to be changed.

And if the time of year is changed, Blatter has made it clear that the hosting rights vote will effectively be held afresh.

In other words, Qatar looks like it could be forced to give up the hosting rights either way.

Given Qatar's evident success in negotiating such Machiavellian intrigue as they earned the hosting rights in the first place, they are likely to fight hard to keep their prize.

But as things stand, however, it seems increasingly likely that Qatar could find the World Cup being prised out of its hands.

[barelylubedcock]

so this is still a grade A clusterfuck

China, US or Australia would all be better



ps
2026 in Europe
2030 in Uruguay/Argentina

[Stuka]

It would be a shame if Qatar couldn't host it. Such a rich history of football in the gulf states, and I find their culture much less blighted by money-grabbing Oil men trying to buy status than in Europe.

[soggy biscuit]

I am one of the few that are quite happy to see it in Qatar. But if it doesn't go ahead there then I hope Australia gets it.

[TBM]

But if it doesn't go ahead there then I hope Australia gets it.

Sod that - means most of the games are played whilst we are all working

[Royal With Cheese]

But if it doesn't go ahead there then I hope Australia gets it.

Sod that - means most of the games are played whilst we are all working

Or in bed.

[PieEater]

What about the criteria they had for selecting Qatar in the first place, didn't they agree to meet the requirement by building masses of hotels and air conditioned stadia?

It just shows what a joke the selection process was, nothing to do with the quality or suitability of their bid and a lot do with money.

[Ian Royal]

So this all basically seems like a way for Blatter to scam more bribes out of the Qatarians and anyone else stupid enough to challenge them.

[soggy biscuit]

But if it doesn't go ahead there then I hope Australia gets it.

Sod that - means most of the games are played whilst we are all working

Or in bed.

Brazil next year will be worse for us in this respect than Oz would be.

[barelylubedcock]

3 to 4 hours ahead but most of the games are going to be in the 3 hour zone

turning 5 o clock kickoffs into 8 and 7 o'clock kickoffs into 10.

I really fail to see how this is 'worse'.

[soggy biscuit]

3 to 4 hours ahead but most of the games are going to be in the 3 hour zone

turning 5 o clock kickoffs into 8 and 7 o'clock kickoffs into 10.

Weekday kick offs are at 7:00pm & 10:00pm local time.

I thought it was 4 & 5 hours behind but you are right at 3 & 4 with most at 3 behind.

[Stuka]

I don't mind if the games are on a stupid o'clock in Australia, gives me a good reason to be in my pub at some god-damn hour on a weeknight.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

3 to 4 hours ahead but most of the games are going to be in the 3 hour zone

turning 5 o clock kickoffs into 8 and 7 o'clock kickoffs into 10.

Weekday kick offs are at 7:00pm & 10:00pm local time.

I thought it was 4 & 5 hours behind but you are right at 3 & 4 with most at 3 behind.

local kick off times are variable, but none seem to be after 9pm - and that's on a Saturday.

game times (pm, local) are 1pm, 4pm and 7pm, except for two cities that are a further hour behind, which will be held an hour earlier.

[10539.4 Miles Away]

Obviously its a massive +1 from me for Australia to host it if Qatar gets the boot, however, someone on here had a pretty compelling theory around the time FIFA kicked Jack Warner out that they were manoeuvring to get the US in position to host it.

I think if they leave the decision to take it off Qatar until close to the event (or delay the announcement) then it'll go to the US as they will be best equipped to host the tournament at short notice, if its done in the next year or two I can see Australia having a great chance of hosting it.

[Stuka]

I realise it can't go to Europe but if called upon England could host a world cup tomorrow.

[soggy biscuit]

I realise it can't go to Europe but if called upon England could host a world cup tomorrow.

Agreed though would prefer it to be Britain to share it a little with Wales & Scotland.

[Stuka]

I realise it can't go to Europe but if called upon England could host a world cup tomorrow.

Agreed though would prefer it to be Britain to share it a little with Wales & Scotland.

If Northern Ireland can join in too then IN for a UK World Cup

[soggy biscuit]

Just looking through the 2026 bids and expected bids to host it

LOL @ Israel and Tanzania giving it a go

[Stuka]

Just looking through the 2026 bids and expected bids to host it

LOL @ Israel and Tanzania giving it a go

Israel hosting the UEFA U21 tournament this year. I dare say they could have a stab at a WC if their neighbours could chill out for a couple weeks. They ought to let a couple rounds happen in the West Bank though.

[soggy biscuit]

Would love to see Iran qualify for Israel 2026