England to withdraw 2022 World Cup bid !!
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8077602
Australia's chances of securing the 2022 soccer World Cup have improved dramatically with England announcing it will "almost certainly" withdraw from the race to focus on its 2018 bid.
That decision is dependant on the United States withdrawing its bid for the 2018 Cup.
An English withdrawal would leave Australia competing with the US, Russia, Spain-Portugal, Belgium-Netherlands, Japan, Qatar and South Korea for the 2022 tournament.
David Dein, international president of England's bid, said it was "almost certain" that England would put all their energies into a bid for the earlier tournament.
"It won't be long before the United States will withdraw from 2018 leaving themselves a run on 2022," he said.
"Consequently we will almost certainly withdraw from 2022."
I trust, Qatar 2022 Bid Committee still have a lot to offer.. just wait for October & November...as they say "Expect Amazing" :-)
Qatar, in fact, has now become the strongest candidate for 2022, keeping in view the support of Sepp Blatter, AFC President, Legacy, PR Campaign including portrayal of amazing proposed stadia and our Zidane !!
Temperature, Booze, Infrastructure (by 2022 it'll be at par with FIFA standards for sure), etc are NON-ISSUES..
Afterall, World Cup belongs to all... not to a few white nations or religions only..
Xactly, Xceptional... ; )
My notes are for those who said that Australia is the frontrunner now that England is likely to withdraw their 2022 bid.
I routinely read Australia's mainstream media online (the like of Sydney Moning Herald and the Australian) and had never encountered any major coverage on soccer, much less on their WC bid. They lag waay behind Qatar in this department....
Cheers
SK
XG..i hope Qatar will get it...but i wont mind if Australian gets it (that is more probable)
I would have joined you in your passion, if my job and stay in qatar was purpose & passion driven but sadly all expats in qatar work here for profit driven motive
Australia is the weakest one.. read these interesting analyses:
http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=33760
http://worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=33759
Australian resource sector (mining and natural gas) are booming. They should be able to match or even outspend Qatar's petrodollar, if that's the only issue
The challenge to Australian's bid may come from within their own ranks. Other football code, notably the Aussie Rule (AFL) are not so keen on having Soccer Australia host the event as it will disrupt their regular session.
Currently soccer (our football) is not the prime spectator sport for Australian. Don't have the hard data but I think it is still behind aussie rules, rugby league and even cricket in term of television coverage.
Also as far as I can see, their goverment is not as energetic as Qatar's in promoting and supporting the bid, and that may play in FIFA's selector's choice.
Just because fans like watching the main leagues on the telly isn't any different to most countries in the world, they all have their football fans, but why should the WC come here? I've been to several of the games in Qatar over the past couple of years and the atmosphere has been as dead as a corpse...if thats Qatars passion for the game then forget it!
easy come back on your last statement - Qatar bid for 2022, India didn't.
Still, Australia are waaaayyyy out in front as being the 2022 choice.
I can tell you that the guys here are mad for football....
they watch spanish liga, premiership etc
A lot of them play as a hobby.....
I cant see how much more encouraged they could be....
One student today told me about meeting Sir Alex F....
It will take time like anywhere else for the homegrown football to mature....
Yep same thoughts as you guys, England-2018 and Australia-2022. Russia is a serious contender though.
Exactly Oryx, its a bloody lame argument....the ME need to do more for football before seriously been considered
Is that the best argument?
Why not give the World Cup to India to encourage football in India?
Fifa can encourage soccer in the ME without giving Qatar the WC...
Fifa need to encourage the Soccer in Middle East and award the FIFA World Cup 2022 to Qatar.
Uk you took into account the petro dollars doing the talking??
If there is such a word.
I'll second that UK!!
Here is my prediction..South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 (whicg are already happened and annouced).
England 2018 and Australia 2022
its Aussie's to lose now!!
Australia in the driving seat I guess
Platini has said that he wants 2018 Cup to be in Europe. So, more than likely 2022 will be in another continent.
I think England take right decision.
IMHO..Qatar's early stand to go only for 2022 will surely work in its favor !!
Go Qatar Go !!