With all the news and controversy surrounding the bidding to host the 2018 World Cup, the 2022 World Cup has taken a back seat. Countries in the running for 2022 are Australia, the United States, Japan, Qatar and South Korea.
Negative campaigning has been the strategy by Russia and England, the two top contenders to host the 2018 World Cup. England accused Russia and Spain of bribing FIFA officials to sway votes to their sides. Russia retaliated by saying that England is full of crime and underage drinking problems. Belgium and Netherlands aren’t likely to host, but with all that negativity surrounding Russia and England, Spain and Portugal are looking like the best low risk bid. However, co-hosting has left a bad taste in the FIFA governing body’s mouth with its “two of everything tournament” when Japan and South Korea held the 2002 World Cup.
The World Cup is a big deal for the organizing body and host country. The organizing body earns 95% of the tournament’s four-year revenue and the host country gains prestige and an economic stimulus unmatched by any other sporting event in the world. Think of tourism, marketing and merchandising. Remember the success of those awful vuvuzelas from South Africa? FIFA earned $3.5 billion in television, sponsorship and licensing deals from the 2010 World Cup.
FIFA’s technical committee visited the possible 2022 hosts for four days each. There were issues with each country. The U.S. is a medium risk bid and needs stronger guarantees of federal government support. Qatar’s desert heat puts player health at risk. The World Cup finals would be played in June and July where average temperatures are 106 degrees in the region. Australia, along with Japan and South, pose commercial problems. Playing in Asia or Oceania would mean a reduction in TV income and commercial revenue from Europe and the Americas. They would need to draw more income to justify the likely loss of commercial revenue.
A decision for both the 2018 and 2022 host will be made by a committee vote on Dec. 2 in Zurich, Switzerland. The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil.