World Cup 2034

[Stranded]

In evidence that FIFA is perhaps even more bent than it ever was even under Blatter, emerging now that coincidentally FIFA's stadium criteria for World Cup bids have been loosened in the final 'hosting requirements' set out last week, from seven already existing and eligible stadiums, to four.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... d-cup-2034

Also "love" the rationale behind that change is the extra long lead time before the tournament and decreasing this number minimises the potential for out of date stadia being used.

Of course, the obvious response to that is to leave the announcement for a few more years first.

[Royal_jimmy]

A China world cup would be so boring

[Sutekh]

A China world cup would be so boring

and yet another hypocritical one after Russia and Qatar

[Brum Royal]

Australia pull out so it's going to be Saudi 34

[Hendo]

[NathStPaul]

Australia pull out so it's going to be Saudi 34

To be fair the quality of the football and logistically (by all accounts) World Cup Qatar was a huge success. Of course that doesn't take away from the fact Saudi shouldn't be anywhere near mainstream sport though.

[tmesis]

A China world cup would be so boring

China would have been far better than Saudi Arabia, especially for anyone thinking of going out to the games.

It's no surprise Australia pulled out though. What's the point of them going to the expense of making a bid when they know the decision has already been made.

[Sutekh]

Australia pull out so it's going to be Saudi 34

****** australians, always pulling out of these things.

Now we're going to get yet another stupid winter world cup.

[Sanguine]

By the time of the completion of the 2034 World Cup, same-sex sexual activity will have been illegal to some extent in locations at four of the five previous tournaments.

2018 Russia - illegal to report such relationships as normal, most LGBT materials considered illegal propaganda
2022 Qatar - activity punishable by jail
2030 Morocco - activity punishable by jail
2034 Saudi Arabia - activity punishable by death

Inclusive game. Lol.

[South Coast Royal]

By the time of the completion of the 2034 World Cup, same-sex sexual activity will have been illegal to some extent in locations at four of the five previous tournaments.

2018 Russia - illegal to report such relationships as normal, most LGBT materials considered illegal propaganda
2022 Qatar - activity punishable by jail
2030 Morocco - activity punishable by jail
2034 Saudi Arabia - activity punishable by death

Inclusive game. Lol.

I wonder if by 2034 with Saudi being more and more involved with sport in the Western World things may have changed there.
Incidentally does anybody have figures for how many have been sentenced to death there for their LGBTQ activities say over the past year?

[Silver Fox]

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch probably keep that sort of info

[South Coast Royal]

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch probably keep that sort of info

Thanks for that foxy.

All I could find was this statement relating to Saudi Arabia:-

For the year 2020 US Dept of State found that, although the death penalty is a possibility for same-sex sexual activity, prosecutors did not seek to impose this punishment during the year.

So maybe the position has improved over there in recent years and by 2034, who knows, things might have improved even more and we should not get so het up about the tournament being held there.

BTW I haven't heard much about there being an issue over the tournament being in the Americas next time with the dreadful violence existing in both the north and the south and the law of the gun being so prevalent.