Qatar will host the 2022 Football World Cup

Incredible! No, not the original article, surely that was written in jest, but the actual decision. IMHO, Australia should have got the 2022 WC. USA, Japan, S. Korea have all had WC's very recently. Qatar should never have been considered as its bid didn't meet any of the technical requirements. The only logical explanation is that a lot of money has changed hands. I'll skip the 2022 WC and also skip the products of any company that sponsors it, I don't expect FIFA to notice or even care, but my heart will be clean.

A huge financial disaster? USA was 100%, and the others were all between 68-72% - close enough to the same. Hence, an Australian WC would have been as much of a "financial disaster" as a Qatar WC. Given the McKinsey report didn't account for the growth in population and the increasing wealth of the population in East Asia between now and 2022, I doubt Australia would have been a worse choice financially.

Of course it was .. every combination of result has been predicted by some sports writer at some stage or another, it is just that the correct ones get noticed after the fact!

Spiro, your prediction was 100% correct. If the FFA and the Australian World Cup bid team, plus the Federal & State Governments had read that article, they would've been aware of what they were up against. In reality, Australia had little chance of securing the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The final pitch to FIFA was nothing short of embarassing, and also the McKinsey report which was given full approval by FIFA, said that a FIFA World Cup held in Australia would be a huge financial disaster-which was not what FIF had wanted to hear.

Not rigged at all

Well, how about that! Your comment about Australia being out of its depth was particularly prescient. That we only got a single vote and that we were surprised and shocked by this are clear indications of our naivity. The lobbying and votegathering was obviously happening at a whole different level to where we were operating.

Spiro Nostrazavos

Well predicted Spiro! I'm very disappointed Aussie has missed out though, we have a proven track record of hosting big events as well as a faithful following of football. Qatar has none of the above

I cannot believe this!!! But then, there's a lot about soccer that I can't believe any more. And even more about soccer that I just don't want to bother with. How the hell can they put the largest single-sport tournament in the world into a tiny sun-scorched emirate which in terms of population, physical size and climate makes the idea of a multinational carnival of colour a virtual impossibility? Spiro surmises that Qatar got the bid because of simple financial skullduggery. And he may be right. A documentary about FIFA on BBC TV a few nights ago lifted the lid on the extraordinary financial guarantees that propective host countries have to give to FIFA to be considered. And on the fact that such terms were supposed to be confidential. This was stymied by the Dutch who were considering a bid but thought against it and then published the guarantees just to embarrass FIFA. The documentary also highlighted the proven cases of corruption brought against some of the FIFA delegates who were initially to have a big say on the destination of the tournaments. The whole thing stinks. That's the negative view. Perhaps a more positive view is that FIFA is looking ahead to a brave new world (it's still 12 years away) in which traditional sporting pursuits such as travelling overseas to support your team will be superceded. What difference does it make where the games will be held if we're all sitting in our surround sound virtual reality viewing pods watching a game taking place in an air conditioned tent with a viewing crowd that for all we know will be a mere construction of CGI? They say that they will build a shed load of new stadia which will be pre fabricated and subsequntly dismantled and shipped to "developing countries" for use there. How big are these stadia going to be? How many visiting fans can Qatar cater for? how many hotels has it got? What about watering holes, in the true and euphemistic senses of the term. consulting the CIA World Factbook, the bible of the dry statistic, for information on Qatar I see that in size it is "slightly smaller than Connecticut" Which is the third smalles of the 50 states of the union. There are probably some people living in the Australian outback who have a back garden the size of Qatar. Good luck to the middle east for getting its first world cup. But whatever happens, it will be a tournament like no other to date.

Can't we just see if we can get the AFL World Cup instead? Nah, Demetriou would probably sell that to Qatar too.

Congratulations Spiro. Your prediction was spot on.

Please stop it with the allegations of US racism. Yes, it is real. Yes, there are problems, but please understand it is an extremely complex issue. First, the Arizona law is not US Federal policy. It does not apply in other states. Second, the courts have struck down many provisions, based both on potential problems and due to the idea that the Federal government, not the states, has the power to determine immigration policy. Third, the Arizona law is not outwardly racist as it portrayed. It only requires that those who are REASONABLY suspected to be illegal be searched. Reasonable suspicion in US law is a term that by definition requires "specific and articulable facts." Having a Latino appearance does NOT meet this standard. Many in the US, including myself, are upset by this law because it solves our illegal immigration problem (11 million and growing!) the wrong way, but the allegations that the US is a police state where every brown-skinned person is stopped on the street with threats of deportation is absolutely ridiculous. Instead, the Federal government ought to enact laws that more fully punishes employers that hire illegals and set up procedures to create a truly national identification card so that legal residency can more easily be determined (ID is currently a state issue). The Arizona law was embarrassing because it gives too much power to the local police over immigration, opens the door for abuse (ignoring the legal standard of specific and articulable facts), and demonstrates that the Federal government in Washington has been completely inept at dealing with immigration. Please, however, do not confuse this potential for abuse with blatant, outward rounding up of all people who look Latino. The Arizona law was an example of the states trying to solve a problem (illegal immigration) that they shouldn't even have to bother with in the first place. And, as far as the NFL stadiums are concerned, they seemed to work in 1994 just fine. Those attendance records have yet to be matched. Only a US hosting of the World Cup could break them. There are more factors than potential attendance records for FIFA to consider but attendance is the cornerstone of why the US would be a good pick. Australia also has many advantages. Of the three, Qatar seems to be the weakest selection in my opinion. Constructing massive stadiums always has a big environmental impact and corresponding damage. In Qatar, those stadiums will go mostly unused after the event.

Nah i do have an argument my problem is i just don't have the time to write down a 1000 word response. Stadium and financial issues r nothing compared to playing in 40 degree heat. Qatar could air condition those stadiums, but the unsustainability and cost of this world be enormous. Qatar also has stadium problems for themselves, with most of there stadiums located within 20km of each other, which FIFA has already said they don't like. Just to clear things up, i never said Japan or South Korea would be a good choice, but i think they're more diverse than Qatar is. Also, you must be extremely ignorant if you realistically think a significant amount of people outside the Middle East want the World cup in Qatar, unfortunately most people aren't as openly minded, and politically correct as you. Bring on 2022 Australia one of the worlds most diverse, beautiful, rich, tourism friendly, countries in the World!!!!

Tsk Tsk. Someone's a little bitter! Quite content with my life, actually. Is it possible you may be projecting? Your ignorance becomes ever so increasingly evident. Rather sad to be honest. Since the only criticism against the nation you're left with is "the stifling heat", just shows you've got no real argument remaining. Part of this final problem has (as previously mentioned) been resolved. And, honestly, I think quite a few will want it hosted in Qatar: I do not claim it to be the most popular choice amongst the population, but if they exhibit the same stereotypes and lack of knowledge about the place that you possess, then that is no surprise; however, I do not think you can completely discredit it as a host nation. And, pray tell, how is one to "just ask the fans"? It is impossible to be able to come up with completely accurate data. Do we take a sample? How large for it representative? Where to conduct such a survey since obviously if you ask South Korean fans, they'd say SK, same with Japanese residents in Japan. I do like statistics but your suggestions are absolutely ludicrous. I'd also like to mention that other countries also have numerous problems relating to hosting such an event. Australia has stadium issues, the US has significant financial issues, South Korea will have a difficult time because of tension with their neighbours North Korea (recall what happened just a couple of days ago), and since you seem to have issues with "tiny" countries which "lack diversity", for you Japan and SK would be very problematic contenders for the bid. Qatar's heat problem doesn't seem too bad now, does it?

Firstly get a life???? Secondly, Just ask the fans and if more than 1 in 10 wants to have a World Cup in a tiny country in the stifling heat, then maybe it could be an option.

Storey. Really? A "tiny insignificant country only rich because of oil"? If other countries had such a wealth of natural resources, they too would use it. Also, around 40% of the world's oil flows through the Straits of Hormuz, so I think many governments around the world care, and many people should... that is, if they want access to energy resources. Additionally, you can't reaaally use the excuse of the nation to have a terrible football (note: not soccer) team without criticising many other bidding nations in the past and present. There is a very noticeable interest in the sport and Qatar has the wealth to be able to pull it off. They did a fantastic job for the Asian games without having to even do that many changes (I realise this is a smaller- scale event, but I believe it provided the country with an ability to showcase their efficiency and ability to pull international events off). Not to mention the fact that they are also hosting the 2011 Asian Cup. Also, going back to your statement that Qatar is "insignificant", you forget (or because of ignorance are unaware of) the key role Qatar plays in global politics. Just recently, they held a conference for Interpol. They often hold various summits and conferences, playing host to such groups as the Arab League of which it is a key member. It is a nation that is constantly evolving. A young country that has elevated itself in the global order, and established itself as a main player. Just look at what they are trying to do with improvements on education (ever heard of Education City?). So don't jump to conclusions, stating that it is a country no-one cares about or has heard of. US Cent-Com is about an hour away from the capital. As to the claim that it is a concrete jungle in "the Arabia" as you call it, and contrasting it "to a huge diverse land like the US or Australia"; I HIGHLY doubt that Doha is the "concrete jungle" you claim it is when comparing it to cities in the States. New York, Chicago, D.C. Any of them ring any sorts of bells? Additionally, Qatar actually has quite a diverse population, the majority being migrants. And I think it is to the bid's and spectators' advantages that the country is small. It allows for shorter travel time when going from one place to another. And if people are looking for a bit of a change, there are countries nearby where one could visit, such as the UAE (not only Dubai), and Oman (Salalah being particularly lovely) if they wish to seek a different form of Arab/ Gulf society, and if they are seeking out greenery. One is able to either drive or fly. If prepared for a longer flight, Lebanon and Syria are also popular tourist destinations. Bahrain is also quite notoriously known for having a very active nightlife, that's only a 20min plane ride/ 1hr boat ride distance. And in response to Redb: Qatar is one of the safest and most stable societies. It is neither Yemen nor Iraq. As previously mentioned, there are American bases here which adds a certain sense of stability. Also Qatar has VERY close ties with the West: France, Britain, and the US to only name a few. And I'm sure that if they do get the 2022 World Cup, security would definitely not be an issue.

No way does Qatar deserves it, the FIFA technical report merely rubber stamped this. FIFA will be investigated for a century if it's given to Qatar because it's total rubbish. Australia has the best technical report, the best bid, the best legacy, excellent tourism venues, has achieved the football development, has the Asian television audience and has the weather to protect the health of all the players. Australia will be a fantastic world cup and I can't wait. GO AUSTRALIA 2022 WORLD CUP HOSTS!!

This would be the biggest disgrace if this happened. A tiny insignificant country only rich because of oil that no cares about or had heard of, and also are terrible at soccer would make for a terrible world cup. Ask the fans who wants to go to some concrete jungle in the Arabia or who wants to go to a huge diverse land like the US or Australia.

The prediction is not looking so good now. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27721527-5019088,00.html

I'am glad that these types of articles are being written,it shows the fear other codes have of the world game.