By Adrian Musolino
January 27th 2010 @ 3:01am
Europe set for 2018 World Cup, Australia eyes 2022
Has FIFA President Sepp Blatter confirmed what we all should have expected? In a press conference in Madrid, Blatter has given his strongest hint yet that the World Cup is destined for a return to Europe in 2018, which would leave Australia with only 2022 as a possibility.
“From what I’ve discussed with the president of UEFA, Michel Platini, in the last few days in Moscow is that only a European candidate will be evaluated for the 2018 World Cup,” Blatter said to the press in the Spanish capital.
“There is a movement at the moment among the various candidates that in the end it would be a good solution … if the candidates for 2018 would only be those from Europe.
”It’s not been finally decided but it’s the idea, also to make the work of FIFA easier and especially that of the executive committee.”
Blatter’s comments sent shockwaves across cyberspace on Australia Day. Fox Sports ran the headline: “Australia’s World Cup bid doomed”, seemingly forgetting the bidding process involves the 2022 tournament as well.
The proposal would need the majority of votes of the FIFA Executive, and it’s hard to gauge what the response will be from the other confederations to this free-kick for UEFA.
While many expected European nations, namely England, Russia, Belgium-Netherlands and Portugal-Spain, to be favourites for 2018 considering the tournament would have bypassed Europe for the previous two events – South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 – the audacity of FIFA to try and change the rules so late in the bidding process to guarantee European success doesn’t do much for the credibility of football’s governing body.
It adds another sorry chapter to the messy World Cup bidding process with the plan to rotate between confederations eventually scrapped and the dual bidding process for two World Cups seemingly causing much consternation – unnecessarily confusing an already heavily political process.
Although many Aussies considered 2022 as the countries best bet in the bidding process, FIFA’s political maneuverings will do little to endear them or the tournament to the many Australians who are skeptical of the World Cup on our shores, be it as a result of the controversy regarding accommodating the AFL and NRL seasons into the World Cup schedule, the ongoing question marks surrounding suitable stadiums and who would foot the bill for much needed developments in infrastructure.
The Australian bid couldn’t afford too much bad publicity, with the war of words with the other codes overshadowing the bidding process itself of late, and FIFA’s latest move will only do more damage on the publicity front.
It is a bitter blow to the FFA and Frank Lowy, the latter maintaining his stance that Australia was a contender for 2018, not to mention the fact he’ll be 92-years-old in 2022 and could be cruelly denied the chance to witness the World Cup in Australia.
If we assume 2018 is booked for Europe then, and European countries are ruled out from the 2022 running, it sets up Australia and the USA as the main combatants with Japan, South Korea, Qatar and Indonesia as the outsiders for 2022.
We’ll wait and see what FIFA does next.
But we can be even more confident now in saying the 2018 tournament is destined for Europe, and our eyes will be on 2022.
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Mr cheese said | January 27th 2010 @ 3:24am | Report comment
I am afraid that I reckon Peter FitzSimons may have a point in his Sidders articles: those millions of dollars spent on the whole thing were perhaps wasted. Apart from the time zone for Asian TV viewers, what does Australia offer ? Aussie was great for a RWC in 2003 but this is on a different scale and you don’t have the stadia.
I think the logic will be the following – Aus is good for a RWC or an Olympic Games but it would be silly to award this thing to a country of 20 million where the necessary stadia do not exist.
Plus, it seems to me that association football in the colony is not helped by people such as Mr Foster saying that “football will be the biggest code in the colony within 20 years…”. Seriously ? How will it have overtaken RL and AFL ?????
Jay said | January 27th 2010 @ 8:16am | Report comment
Agree – If Australia ulitmatley does not win the world cup rights, then how will the govenment respond to pouring $m’s down a blackhole. There has to be some level of accountability, from both the government and the FFA..
The FFA in particular has been far from organised and their dealings with the other codes over the use of stadiums has been poorly managed at best.
In addition to your comments on the stadia in Australia, the cowboys CEO said that they did not want a 40,000 seat stadium in townsville becuase they would be stuck with the ongoing costs post-world cup and would struggle to get capacity for regular NRL games, let alone A-League matches.
Tifosi said | January 27th 2010 @ 8:36am | Report comment
It would be a temporary 40,000 seater, reduced to 25,000 after the world cup.
Saying that can a city of 150,000 really host a world cup game?
Rudd got hoodwinked by Lowy into thinking it was winnable.
jimbo said | January 27th 2010 @ 9:24pm | Report comment
Don’t believe a word Sepp Blatter says – he was merely talking about a conversation he had with Michelle Platini, the head of UEFA.
Even if it is true and 2018 goes to Europe, the money is not wasted – it is for 2 WC bids 2018 and 2022.
If 2018 goes to Europe it will mean Europe are out of the running for 2022. And with 2010 in Africa and 2014 in South America that will leave Asia and North America for 2022.
Australia or the US as the main contenders, so our chances of winning 2022 have improved significantly.
andrewMc said | January 27th 2010 @ 4:14am | Report comment
I think the jury is still out on whether this is a good or a bad thing for the Australian 2022 bid. (We all knew 2018 was unofficially going to Europe). One of the positives is that it would make the 8 European delegates fair game to lobby for the 2022 WC.
Mr cheese said | January 27th 2010 @ 4:57am | Report comment
I think they’re more likely to give it to America. Let’s be honest. I would rather be a tourist at a World Cup in Australia than at one in the US: at least the Australians would realise that the thing was taking place, unlike the Americans in 1994.
That said, I can’t see them awarding it to the colony. They’ll give it to the Yanks, in the vain hope that ’soccer’ will take off in that country. We all have our pipedreams…
Tifosi said | January 27th 2010 @ 5:36am | Report comment
Soccer in the USA has increased at such a large rate since 1994. Back then nobody knew what the World cup was, now everyone is trying to get onboard.
MLS teams are building new stadiums, TV ratings are also going up. NO its not what the traditonal american sports are at but believe me soccer is getting bigger over there.
Also, the USA still pays the most for TV rights, the spanish language immigrants continue to swell driving more demand for the product.
Remember you capture 10%of the USA its still bigger than the whole of Australia. ESPN are also giving this world cup the most attention it ever has.
Here is a good article.
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=dw-worldcupfever120409&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Ken said | January 27th 2010 @ 7:35am | Report comment
I guess it all depends on where their priorities lie for trying to expand, the US or Asia. Asia obviously is a lot further along than the US and would be an easy consolidation where the US would be a lot more work
BTW Australia is not, and never was, a colony. The founding states were colonies but the same could be said of the US.
Tifosi said | January 27th 2010 @ 5:17am | Report comment
Not that FIFA owe us anything but once again they like to change the rules as they go. Its not unexpected though.
I guess FIFA originally didnt want a situation where they said Europe will host and only one country puts their hand up.
Also it makes a a mockery of Frank Lowy’s claim “the future is ASIA”. It might well be in 30 years , but its not the reality today. I think he was the only one who thought 2018 was a realistic chance anyway.
Another reason i believe is the fact that Europeans wont be travelling to Sth Africa in such large numbers. FIFA know their bread is buttered from European fans.
Personally its the right call if it happens. Europe deserves to host it before Australia does.
MV Dave said | January 27th 2010 @ 5:43am | Report comment
England 2018, Oz 2022. The Yanks had it in 1994. Asia will need to be satisfied with the growing appetitie for football. Dont underestimate the huge tv audience in Asia that can watch live in 2022 with our time zone. The Americas to have 2026.
Tifosi said | January 27th 2010 @ 6:25am | Report comment
Hmmm
Take a look at these FIFA figures.
http://origin.en.fifacom.deltatre.it/mm/document/fifafacts/ffprojects/ip-401_05a_tvstats_9299.pdf
Which world cup has had the most tv viewers? USA 94.
Even in 1994, ASIA had more people watching than in 2002, When they actually held it and China was in it as well.
Michael C said | January 27th 2010 @ 7:56am | Report comment
hmmmm – given that FIFA generates 90% of their revenue from the FIFA WC – - there’s big, big dollars for them to cash in on.
Being expansive in ‘growing’ the game is one thing – but, a couple of ‘cash cow’ WC’s in Europe and the USA back to back might be viewed very favourably.
Tifosi said | January 27th 2010 @ 8:11am | Report comment
Absolutely, FIFA are only interested in the money. Even Frank Lowy said all that FIFA care about is the “economic benefit to FIFA”.
The money they would make from England/USA would be HUGE !!
People keep going on about ASIA but the USA still pays the most for World Cup TV rights out of any country on Earth.The Spanish speaking rights even more than the English speaking rights.
FIFA would want the English speaking TV rights to go up in value in the USA. To do that, they give them the World Cup in 2022. Its a no brainer for me to be honest.
Redb said | January 27th 2010 @ 8:22am | Report comment
Looks like you were on the money Tifosi. FIFA will not overlook the US with 300M compared to OZ with 22M.
Mr cheese said | January 27th 2010 @ 8:23am | Report comment
I suppose most other sports administrators and governing bodies would like to make much money too, but their sports aren’t as popular.
Victer said | January 27th 2010 @ 9:10am | Report comment
will they make much money from south africa?
Tifosi said | January 27th 2010 @ 11:14am | Report comment
FIFA makes their money from TV rights. It was about $3.5 Billion for 2010.
The tournament profit for 2006 was about 150 Million Euros, FIFA take a small slice of that but 100 million euros went to the German FA.
Marshall said | January 27th 2010 @ 8:47am | Report comment
I’ve noticed this story is on the front page of papers across the country today. Not good for public perceptions of FIFA and the game itself. It shows FIFAs true colours.
Michael C said | January 27th 2010 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Sepp and FIFA have displayed their colours over and over in the past – e.g. around Oceania and direct entry and the like – so, as Towser indicates below that there’s no real surprise.
Reality is it was always rather odd to get people bidding on 1 or both of 2018 and 2022 at the one time. Rather odd indeed. There’s been so much chopping and changing of the ‘rotation’ schemes that to expect FIFA to be settled in for the foreseeable X number of years……well, As if (and he plays for Pakistan!!).
Seriously though – it’s common sense that 2018 would be NH after Brazil and Sth Af in 14 and 10. And the new cyclical pseudo rotation means that Europe can at best hold it every 3rd tourney – so, 2018 is Europe/NH……it may as well become official policy!!!
Ironic though if it does – as, it’d be about the most decent thing FIFA will have done – as, it will cease people lavishing gifts with respect to the 2018 vote who can then focus on the 2022 vote!! Better bang for the buck.
Seriously – was Australia (SH) ever in the running for 2018??
Mr said | January 27th 2010 @ 11:07am | Report comment
It’s more to do with the power of UEFA. If UEFA is so supremely confident of 2018, they should have an internal run-off, back a single county in December on it merits at the FIFA Exec Committee vote. They should also withdraw all UEFA 2022 bids.
Why make a UEFA problem one that the rest of the Confeds have to deal with at FIFA level.
Towser said | January 27th 2010 @ 9:31am | Report comment
My only suprise is that their is any suprise in what this weasel does.
Football has much to thank FIFA for regarding the spread of the game worldwide,but make no mistake when push comes to shove Europe has all the clout still.
I have been saying since the beginning that Asia shot itself in the foot with its bid. Should have been one bid supported by the AFC. Then the whole region could have got behind one of the Asian candidates.
Then again MBH is from Qatar so some vested interest there?
If Asia is ever to remotely challenge Europe & develop a football culture & economy remotely equal to it,then it has to start finding some solidarity as an Asian Bloc.
Sepp the Swiss Hydra:-
In Greek mythology, the Lernaean Hydra (Greek: Λερναία Ὕδρα (help·info)) was an ancient nameless serpent-like chthonic water beast (as its name evinces) that possessed 9 heads— the poets mention more heads than the vase-painters could paint— and poisonous breath so virulent even her tracks were deadly.
hazza said | January 27th 2010 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Considering USA failed attempt to get the 2016 Olympic games I would say we are now favourites for 2022. Its unlikely to go back to KOREA or Japan so soon. Qatar and Indonesia were never serious threats anyway. We have the largest tv audience for the World Cup right on our doorstep.
Marshall said | January 27th 2010 @ 11:04am | Report comment
I think losing the Olympics will make Obama and co hungry for the World Cup. It’s us V the USA for 2022.
AGO74 said | January 27th 2010 @ 11:18am | Report comment
i think obama has more pressing concerns than who hosts the world cup.
Victer said | January 27th 2010 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
haha i agree, maybe turning around a 1.34 trillion dollar deficit might be one of them.
Marshall said | January 29th 2010 @ 8:10am | Report comment
Sport is often used by politicians as an escape from politics. Watch Obama and the US make a serious play for 2022
Australian Football said | January 27th 2010 @ 11:26am | Report comment
Blatter does not speak for the 25 man FIFA executive committee who are made up from the all of the confederations of FIFA not just Europe.. Blatter when he was in Australia said we had good chance of winning the 2018 bid then in England said their bid was an excellent one and they stood a good chance same with Qatar’s bid.. The point is he tells whoever he is speaking to what they want to hear.. He only has one vote, and the other confederations have their interests too; so we are still in the hunt for 2018 make no mistake about that..
~~~~~~
AF
Marcel said | January 27th 2010 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
Absolutely AF.
Europe only has 8 votes on the committee. If the other delegates see this as being too dictatorial then it wont get up. CAF and CONEMNBOL are both locked out of the bids so it would be difficult to strike any meaningful deal / payoff for their support. As superficial as it sounds there are probably a few delegates who might fancy a 1 month holiday in Oz come 2018.
Kazama said | January 27th 2010 @ 11:41am | Report comment
I think we all pretty much knew deep down Europe would get 2018. With their power, it is impossible to have them not hosting a World Cup for 16 years…
What I would warn people from thinking – even if Blatter says it (we all know his track record) – is that if the 2018 cup goes to a European nation that the 2022 edition won’t. Don’t rule out UEFA getting back to back World Cups.
I have a gut feeling that Russia will get one of them.
And I agree with Towser – our chances would be greater if the AFC had have unified the region behind us…but such is life in the world of football politics…
Jeb said | January 27th 2010 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Agree with you Kazama – wasn’t a uefa country always going to win 2018 anyway? All this may do is make the bidding processes more efficient. That said, it’s a terrible look – changing things at last minute.
But europe will never get two cups in a row. As the fifa bid rules stand, a hosting confederation is locked out for the next two cups. So unless this rule changes between now and december…
Interesting that your gut says russia. mine says spain/portugal. regardless, i’d agree with comments below that we perhaps would stand a better chance if england didn’t win 2018 – anglosphere etc.
Kazama said | January 27th 2010 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
Jeb – didn’t know that a confederation was locked out for two cups after hosting – however, as we’ve seen here and in previous instances (such as Oceania getting a WC spot then losing it a couple months later) the rules can change at any point when FIFA is involved.
I’m thinking Russia because it kills two birds with one stone – gives UEFA the cup, gives the cup to a country that hasn’t hosted a major football tournament before (not a WC or Euro anyway). Also, of the bidding nations Russia has most recently hosted the UCL final, one of a few possible hints that UEFA desires to build up Russia.
Agree on that if England get the cup we might be out of it – not just because of the “Anglosphere” angle but also because of the fact we are still in the Commonwealth…
Roger Rational said | January 27th 2010 @ 11:41am | Report comment
Do you reckon they’ll vote for one Anglo country in 2018 followed by another in 2022? I doubt it. Look at England’s ‘06 bid or Chicago’s Olympics bid – hamstrung because most of the world hates giving anything to the Anglosphere. Australia’s best chance of winning 2022 is if someone like Spain or Russia gets 2018.
True Tah said | January 27th 2010 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Roger why would the world hate giving anything to the anglosphere.
Maybe the FFA should sell Australia as a non-anglo country?
Digital TV - meh said | January 28th 2010 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
Heard of Iraq? Afghanistan? Things like that – they aren’t that popular around the world you know.
Towser said | January 27th 2010 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
Frank Lowy still talking the talk:-
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/australia/lowy-aussie-bid-on-track-283057
Time to wear out the carpets on your mediterranean yacht Frank. How can Frank exploit this about Hydra Sepp:-
“The weakness of the Hydra was that only one of its heads was immortal.”
hazza said | January 27th 2010 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
There must be an election in the air. If Blabber is doing the rounds to appease the Confederations I am looking forward to what he will say when he comes this way.
MV Dave said | January 27th 2010 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Africa 2010, Americas 2014, Europe 2018, Asia (Australia) 2022 seems like a reasonable rotation. Asia’s power is grwoing within FIFA and certainly they bring the most tv viewers. With Football becoming even more popular in this region and even in India then having a WC with favourable timezones is very important. That this area of the world (Oz) has never hosted the cup, it is a safe venue with a sports mad population is also very important. Whilst a WC in the USA would be bigger (attendance wise) the greater influence would be felt in Oz and Asia in general if the WC was here.
BTW Dont underestimate the influence of Lowy who wont give up easily on Oz hosting 2018 never mind 2022.
Mick said | January 27th 2010 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
When Sepp travels to Asian countries he will change his story, when Sepp travels to the USA he will have a different story, that is why they go through the processn, if we miss out at least we know what is required for 2026
AndyRoo said | January 27th 2010 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
where probably lucky this came out now, lets those bids from non European confederations know what they are up against. Unfortunately I don’t think there is a “rest of the world” block but their should be. Threaten them back that they will never ever get to host the world cup again.
AndyRoo said | January 27th 2010 @ 4:58pm | Report comment
John Duerden has written a piece. He is pretty much the number one english speaking write on asian football and i ahve read many of his pieces and still can’t tell if he is pro or anti Australia.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1775/asian-editorials/2010/01/27/1763053/asian-comment-as-australia-cant-win-2018-bid-anyway-europe
Interesting that he mentions “As far as 2018 is concerned, South Korea, Japan, Qatar and Indonesia are actively working against Australia, both inside Asia and out, and making sure that it will not get the votes it needs.”
Victer said | January 27th 2010 @ 8:48pm | Report comment
not one of them has a chance anyway i do not know why they are bothering to bid
pimbo said | January 27th 2010 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
Terrific news.
We’ll still be able to see GWS against the Demons at the MCG in June 2018 after all.
Australian football is worse than training for a second division German team anyway.
george said | January 27th 2010 @ 6:32pm | Report comment
With the amount of unsold tickets being returned to South Africa for the world cup from all european nations competing , as fans refuse to go due to many reason . FIFA will be looking to recoupe the money from the 2018 , 2022 world cups . This will all come down to who they see will put the most bums on seats .
pimbo said | January 27th 2010 @ 7:12pm | Report comment
No probs getting rid of them.
If you sign up for Auskick the AFL gives you a free bag of goodies, a free NAB bank account and free tickets to the World Cup.
ItsCalledFootball said | January 28th 2010 @ 9:36pm | Report comment
FIFA are having no trouble selling tickets:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/organisation/ticketing/news/newsid=1162835.html#two+million+tickets+sold+2010+fifa+world+cup+south+africa
With 22 weeks still to go, two thirds of all tickets have already been sold and 55 of the 63 matches are oversubscribed in at least one category.
Some European countries have actually asked for more tickets and this WC will be a big success – as usual.
hazza said | January 27th 2010 @ 7:44pm | Report comment
Cant see how Sepp(the rat) Blatter is going to get this one through. It would have to be ratified by the 24 member executive of which only 8 are European. Unless its made official its business as usual as far as the bid is concerned.
Tifosi said | January 27th 2010 @ 9:10pm | Report comment
I suggest you read this then if you think the Executive Committee would not change things
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2009/12/28/1713666/world-cup-2010-sepp-blatter-awards-lucrative-ticketing
“The firm, based in FIFA’s home city Zurich, was picked in 2007 by the 24-man executive committee after a public tender.”
george said | January 27th 2010 @ 10:15pm | Report comment
Its always amazing how the boys at the top get away with things like this .
Cpaaa 2018 said | January 28th 2010 @ 12:14am | Report comment
Seppo has a big mouth and only one vote,he has changed his mind 100 times which indicates that there is no clear favorite for the hosting of 2018 or the 2022. Its all speculation even here on the Roar, which i think can only be a good thing for the Australia bid. Australia is making enough noise for the 2018 bid which could work in our favor for 22, if the rights do go to Europe on the first one.
Just dont underestimate Frank Lowy. Only when FL pulls the plug and says we have no hope , will I believe the dream of hosting a WC is truely over.
Our bid is still on track, with only a year away its only going to get hotter from here, just dont pay too much attention to the non-believers whom had little faith from the beginning.
Cpaaa 2018
westy said | January 28th 2010 @ 12:33am | Report comment
I realise that I am not an expert in the field but I believe a joint Australian / Indonesian bid for the 2022 World Cup would have a compelling bid. It may well have united the Asian delegates behind one bid. Japan ’s late bid is spoiler especially for us.
Timmuh said | January 29th 2010 @ 7:13pm | Report comment
Indonesia would introduce one big obstacle. That is, what if (as unlikely as it is) Israel was to qualify. Would FIFA give a World Cup to a nation which forces Israelis to go through all sorts of additional processing being being allowed to enter. At least Indonesia, unlike some nations, does allow Israelis to enter in some circumstances and any prospective World Cup squad would most likely fall into that category. Their supporters might not.
The politics; particularly in Europe; of FIFA giving a nation with those anti-Israeli laws a World Cup would (rightfully, in my opinion) not be good.
PRSancho said | February 21st 2010 @ 12:47pm (4 weeks ago) | Report comment
FIFA never said that it would be a free-for-all to have a shot on hosting a WC in ‘18 or ‘22. They were clear on “studying the best way to pick the host nations”, much because there are so many candidates.
UEFA getting 2022 would meant they are officially out of 2026-2030 bidding contest. Athough FIFA could always change the rules, both scenarios would be just plain stupid. So, they will give UEFA the 2018 WC. And doing so, automatically all European bids are out-of-contention for 2022 and 2026. And the 100-years celebration in 2030 would be in Europe!
That said, it would be a suprise to other nations than USA or Australia to host in 2022. It’s a 50% shot.