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Race wide open for 2018, 2022 World Cups; Japan promises high-tech tournament

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I agree that Brazil has sooo many issues, and to focus on a WC that's only some years from now is...not very realistic. But I wish to be there. Appreciate your views, pls keep them coming - I love Brazil too and the people who love it ^^

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IMHO, Black Widow, 2014 World Cup should be held in Europe, then 2018 in Brazil. Seven years won't be enough time to Brazil get ready for an event that big. As for security, one thinks that they are working backstage. But IMO, this sort of international security is also beyond Brazilian govt's power, they must be co-working with other national security (Argentina, Paraguay, USA) on this issue. BTW, love Brazil and Brazilians!!

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LiN: I'm from SP and haven't gone back in 2 yrs. Thanks for the update. I would expect the elected President would at least have a say about security, a very big issue. It seems drilling oil is more on her agenda. And they say Lula is behind her all the way, so..maybe too early to tell how things will turn out in 2014. Cheers! And Cheers to my fellow Paulistas and Brazilians all over ;)

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BlackWidow: I am living in Sao Paulo, so one reads news about 2014 almost everyday. However, I doubt Brazil will be 100% ready by the time the opening ceremony starts. I expect Brazil will show the world something between what we saw in Germany and South Africa: not first world, but also not the African raw reality. As for the elected President, she is a mystery: people say she is not politically apt and she is not get involved in the 2014 preparations: it's beyond her realm.

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LostinNagoya (or rather in Brazil :) ah yes, good old Havelange. My father had one of his books autographed. How are preparations going there? Is Dilma getting involved?

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There's no reason why Qatar should be hosting. It should have been the US. The number of Americans who purchased WC tickets in 98 was twice the population of Qatar. Qatar has no use for stadiums post WC. Plus their team sucks donkey balls. They've never qualified for WC and never will. What a goddam farce.

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@ BlackWidow: 2022 is not so far. You would be surprised to learn that the 2010 Cup was promised to South Africa 36 years before the event, in 1974, as part of the election of the former Fifa's president Joao Havelange. In Joao Havelange's biography it becomes clear how politics, money and good will are mixed to bring World Cups to politically arid regions.

Expect 2026 to be in the news soon: India and China will bid for that Cup.

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Burakumin: the host country makes a vow to allow all the 32 countries nationals unconditionally to enter its territory (of course, criminals and the likes are barred). It's part of the bidding book countries have to submit to Fifa. If Israel qualifies, it surely will be allowed to play in Qatar. By the rules of the bidding book, countries somehow become hostages of Fifa during the 30-days tournment. That's why analysts say that Fifa is somehow more powerful than the majority of its members. What diplomacyand war can't achieve, sometimes sport can. As for Brazil, if I read right, it was given the rights of holding the 2014 World Cup because it was the sole candidate. Can you believe that? 2014 had only one candidate, 2018 and 2022 nine.

Rockbuster, Qatar already built a stadium with the technology they will use in 2022. While it was 40C outside the stadium, inside players and fans would feel it was 22C - thanks to a monster Germanic air-conditioning system that will be a benchmark in sports, analysts are saying. Plus, Qatar promised 9 of the stadia will be de-constructed and donated to developing neighboor countries after 2022. Something that sounds nice: you build wonderful stadia and them give them away to your neighboors, it must have won some votes. As for accomodation, I just read that Qatar asked the same neighboors to help accomodate them.

I reckon that Qatar wasn't the best choice. I was rooting for USA or Australia. But I guess the underdogs must have their chances too.

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I'm already looking forward to Afghanistan 2026!!

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2022 sounds too far ahead for me. Maybe they should start bidding for Mars.

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3D? and

most people today are more interested in the scores than the games and those are available with a mouse-click.

Where's the fun in that...balance, balance!

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Lets face the facts here.

Fifa will decide on the venue that will it give it the most income. They already decided against japan as they will lose revenues from overseas tv-stations.

In the old days being awarded an event like the Olympics or a WC, etc meant that it would help the local economy.

Times have changed hosting such an event now costs a lot as they come with rules like X new venues need to be build, etc.

Also online game transmission means less travelers to the venues, etc. Yeah broadcast times are still a pain but now we got the technology to record a game and watch it at leisure(if so desired).

I reckon most people today are more interested in the scores than the games and those are available with a mouse-click.

Just my view.

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@LostinNagoya

Your sentiments are noble, but looking at it from a practical view the Qatar decision doesn't make sense. First, Qatar is a tiny country - there is no getting around that. What about the hotels? restaurants? Policing facilities? Can they deal with the influx of people that the World Cup brings? The logistical side of that bid has huge question marks on it. In fact, the FIFA adjudicating panel said that staging it in Qatar was, quote, "high risk". How has it gone from "high risk" to the best option in just 5 months?

And the weather. Just a quick glance at cursory figures shows that the average temperature in the summer in Qatar is 41 degrees in June and around 46 in July. Surely that is too hot to be playing football in. Although, I suppose they might build indoor stadiums.

12 stadiums will be in a 20 mile radius. If all world football fans were well-behaved, that wouldn't be a concern. But they aren't. And so having that many football fans (and possibly other non-football elements too) in such a limited area is going to be difficult to handle.

I appreciate the sentiment you are trying to put across, but I just can't help thinking that these two decisions - Qatar in particular - are very bad ones.

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I think FIFA did the right thing: England surely is favorite in any kind of bid, but why bring rain to already wet grounds? The first thing you associate with England is the Queen, and then football. No need to promote the sport in the island.

Not trying to slam you LostinNagoya, I like your posts - but based on that idea - why would FIFA have awarded 2014 to Brazil? No need to promote the game there! C'mon, mate, England had the best bid and would have put on a brilliant WC.

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Will not the 2022 World Cup the first huge event hold in an arabic country? I guess there are almost a billion arabic fellows comemmorating on behalf of the Qataris

Nice sentiments, but how about this for a talking point. If Israel qualify - highly doubtful, mind you, they have only played maybe one WC - will they be allowed to play? Israeli tennis players are not allowed to play in Qatar in their international tournaments. Is this the sort of "friendly" nation that should be hosting sporting events? Or maybe will Qatar become more liberal and accepting for the month of the WC?

Also - why did we all find out at least 45 minutes BEFORE the nnouncement? Al Jazeera formally announced the decision an hour before FIFA did. Something smells...

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I think FIFA did the right thing: England surely is favorite in any kind of bid, but why bring rain to already wet grounds? The first thing you associate with England is the Queen, and then football. No need to promote the sport in the island. The same for Spain/Portugal/Holland/Belgium. Russia was the right market bet. Qatar should not be thought as the "tiny country", but what it means to the arabic world. Will not the 2022 World Cup the first huge event hold in an arabic country? I guess there are almost a billion arabic fellows comemmorating on behalf of the Qataris. USA, Australia, Japan, Korea, all them already hosted a World Cup or the Olympics. Time to clear space for more members in the club.

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England the worst of the 4 candidates. What a joke. We all knew the winners 45 minutes before bloated Blatter opened the envelopes! What was with that? I don't wish sporting victory in anything to England - but their bid was by far the best for 2018, and they absolutely deserved it after waiting since 1966. Aus/US/Japan had great bids and facilities. A country with 1.6 million people and no real connection to sport/soccer gets 2022. MONEY TALKS IN BOTH CASES. SOCCER....HA HA HA HA HA!

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Twisters the lot of them. How many palms were greased to reach this ridiculous decision? An utter disgrace, England shoudl get other decent nations to make their own federation and have a real World Cup, back to the way the game used to be.

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Bad decision. Very bad decision. That is all I can say.

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I am really speechless: Russia and Qatar. Not that they don't deserve it. Russia is a world power that needs the World Cup to show the world its beauty. As for Qatar, well, the mouse knocked out the elephants. Bribery? I don't believe so. FIFA is betting in 3-world countries, a good market strategy in my opinion. 2018 will stay in Europe, as Europeans wished. 2022 will open a new market to soccer.

Congrats Russia, Qatar!!

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smithinjapan:

The US will get it.

...............

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Just confirmed what we heard 45 minutes ago. England miss out and Russia win 2018. Qatar win 2022. FIFA and Blatter - the farce goes on!

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Announced via Al Jazeera, allegedly...

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Still has not been announced - but Qatar apparently has the 2022 already - it was announced on FoxSports Aus. 20 mins ago. So much for "secret ballot". What a farce FIFA is.

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Announcement will be in a little more than 5 hrs time! Good luck to all bidding nations for the 2018, 2022 World Cups!

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Not quite sure where logic (or common sense) came into play when Australia's bid was presented by an ex-supermodel ?

C'mon northlondon - you love Elle - admit it! She is still easier on the eye than old Clinton, Morgan Freeman or a billionaire oil sheikh.I don't really know if these presentations and guest appearances are the be all and end all - after all Mr Obama and Ms Gillard didnt even find the time to attend - and I don't blame them.

Japan, Australia and The States would all do a great job, have proven records with major international events, and will fill their already existing stadia with sports-crazy fans, but my money is on the big-money promises of Qatar. Going to be interesting to see the European fans cope with mid-high 40 degree temps if they do get it! LOL

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Putin did the right thing as usual.

What ? Bribe the FIFA delegates who get to vote ?

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It's a treason to the millions of young people and kids even in Japan that enjoy the game in it's LIVE variant.

Bur unfortunately most of the millions of football fans around the world cannot a) play in a World Cup, or b) afford to travel and buy tickets to watch a World Cup. Therefore the Japanese are offering a better alternative for fans than any of the other countries.

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I am afraid Japanese functionaries are playing the wrong card here.

It's a treason to the millions of young people and kids even in Japan that enjoy the game in it's LIVE variant.

They can host virtual World Cup and have it every 2nd year if they want. Or even every year - cycling the platforms...

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Australia and America can promise the least amount of diving, namby-pamby rolling around on the pitch and the other forms of shameless quailing European players get up to.

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Putin did the right thing as usual. I hope that either Australia or Qatar will get it.

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The US will get it.

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why do they need a high tech world cup??...it isnt a DS or playstation game...

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Logic and common-sense would point to Australia

whose bid’s presentation was highlighted with a cameo by supermodel Elle Macpherson

Not quite sure where logic (or common sense) came into play when Australia's bid was presented by an ex-supermodel ?

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Just took a look at all of the 2022 video presentations. Based on those to me, only Australia and the USA showed a lot of energy and passion. Japan/Korea way too soon. Qatar too small a country.

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whose bid’s presentation was highlighted with a cameo by supermodel Elle Macpherson......

Dunno how old she is - but for us mere mortals she has still got it no-matter what her age!

Logic and common-sense would point to Australia/The States - big money (and the FIFA officials who love it) means it will likely go to Qatar.

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yokomoc; Not Olympics, but when we either move or refurbish our stadium by 2016, hopefully some WC playoffs in 2018.

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whose bid’s presentation was highlighted with a cameo by supermodel Elle Macpherson......

Yeah, sadly Russell Crowe and Skippy weren't available.

steve, lol. Will they be using Selhurst Park for the Olympics?

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If England win and Japan qualify i will try to get a petition to ask Japan to use some world class facilities from my home town. The Travel lodge at East Croydon and the crystal Palace training ground at Beckenham spring to mind.

i would not think Japan has a chance at all. After the hooligan frezy that was ridiculed worldwide, they may as well forget it for a while.

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Still think Australia's the best bet as a growing economy and a rapidly improving football nation with quality investment in sport.

whose bid’s presentation was highlighted with a cameo by supermodel Elle Macpherson......

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I personally vote for Australia. In fact as long as it is not held in any Islamic state (too much risk and the security costs will be staggering) I don't really mind.

As long as it is not held in any Islamic state ?? Goodness me, I hope you have some sound reasoning to back that one up. Do you seriously believe that the security costs in Qatar will be anymore than in England or the US ? Or are you just biased against anything 'Islamic' ?

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Isn't a bit of a hard sell using currently non-existent techonology as your main appeal? You've got the factor where the techonology may or may not be developed fully in time for the event, then if it is will it function perfectly? Will fans really gather en masse in stadia to watch the 3D match instead when chances are strong it'll already be displayed in 3D at home by that time? And if the technology is available at that time wouldn't it be in widespread use everywhere and not just in Japan? And won't the use of techonology be more at the behest of the domestic media rather than event planners? In that respect the likes of Sky Sports in the UK or the major US Sports channels have been way ahead of the Japanese media for years.

Still think Australia's the best bet as a growing economy and a rapidly improving football nation with quality investment in sport. The appeal for the Aussies is much the same as when the US got '94.

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American Bengishi - I agree totally with you on that point. But sadly, I feel this is never going to happen in our lifetime.

I personally vote for Australia. In fact as long as it is not held in any Islamic state (too much risk and the security costs will be staggering) I don't really mind.

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