FIFA World Cup: 2018 in Russia, 2022 in Qatar

Switzerland's Zurich was the place that the whole football world looked towards on this December 2, 2010 as world football governing body FIFA announced the hosts for the 2018 & 2022 FIFA World Cup's. And for many the decisions came as a big surprise. Russia were named hosts for 2018 and an even bigger upset came in the form of the tiny emirate of Qatar being chosen as the hosts of the 2022 edition.

Football insiders have been saying for the last couple of days that Russia and Qatar are the likeliest candidates to win the bidding process, but global public opinion thought that England or Spain/Portugal in 2018 and USA in 2022 where the countries set to win. But the decision wasn't about football only, it was about power, money and the global expansion of football to new markets.

In lauding the victorious nations, the FIFA president Sepp Blatter also made a point of praising those who missed out. He said: “I have to say thanks to to the Executive Committee of FIFA because for 2018 and 2022 we go to new lands, because the FIFA World Cup has never been in eastern Europe or the Middle East. So, I'm a happy president when we speak of the development of football.

"But I have to give big compliments to all the bidders for the big job they have done and the messages they have delivered. All have delivered the message that football is more than just a game. Football is not only about winning; it is also a school of life where you must learn to lose, and that is not easy.”

So the decisions for 2018 and 2022 World Cup's have been made and this will have influences on the World Cup's thereafter. 2026 most likely will now go to the United States and if FIFA's global expansion plans continue then Europe could be bypassed in 2030 and the World Cup could return to Asia. And who could be the hosts? The fight would be on between China and India, the final frontiers of world football.


Here an older blog entry from me (June 8, 2010) just before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup about India's chances to host a football World Cup in the future. Here is the article link: India hosting a football World Cup?


The voting process involved only 22 of the 24 FIFA Executive Committee members as two had been suspended after a sting operation exposed them as willing to accept bribes for their vote. And the following happened in the voting:

2018 FIFA World Cup
Round 1: England 2 votes, Netherlands/Belgium 4 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes, Russia 9 votes (as no absolute majority was reached, the candidate with least amount of votes, England, was eliminated).
Round 2: Netherlands/Belgium 2 votes, Spain/Portugal 7 votes, Russia 13 votes (Russia obtained an absolute majority).

2022 FIFA World Cup
Round 1: Australia 1 vote, USA 3 votes, Japan 3 votes, Korea Republic 4 votes, Qatar 11 votes (Australia eliminated).
Round 2: Japan 2 votes, USA 5 votes, Korea Republic 5 votes, Qatar 10 votes (Japan eliminated).
Round 3: Korea Republic 5 votes, USA 6 votes, Qatar 11 votes (Korea Republic eliminated).
Round 4: USA 8 votes, Qatar 14 votes (Qatar obtained an absolute majority).