Another winter World Cup?

[GodIsADeeJay81]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67271423

The 2034 World Cup looks like it’s going to be in Saudi Arabia

[Anonymous Claret]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67271423

The 2034 World Cup looks like it’s going to be in Saudi Arabia

I wonder why Australia have decided to pull out of the bidding?

The cynic in me says that those behind the Australia bid have received substantial deposits in their offshore accounts.

If it is in Saudi Arabia, as with Qatar I won't watch 1 minute of it.

[claretburns]

I wonder why Australia have decided to pull out of the bidding?

The cynic in me says that those behind the Australia bid have received substantial deposits in their offshore accounts.

If it is in Saudi Arabia, as with Qatar I won't watch 1 minute of it.

Or it could be the other way where the Australian bidding committee have been informed substantial deposits have been made to FIFA offshore accounts from Saudi meaning an Australia bid would not be worth it.

[mkmel]

Absolutely disgusting if Saudi Arabia get the 2034 World Cup.

In recent years we've had Russia Qatar and now it looks like Saudi Arabia.

Whoever next? Any other disgusting countries with shed loads of money want to put their names forward for 2038?

[jrgbfc]

Sensible move by the Aussies to not waste their time bidding. It's clearly a done deal the Saudis are getting it.

[Chester Perry]

Absolutely disgusting if Saudi Arabia get the 2034 World Cup.

In recent years we've had Russia Qatar and now it looks like Saudi Arabia.

Whoever next? Any other disgusting countries with shed loads of money want to put their names forward for 2038?

When you look at the cost (and consequent host financial loss) n a large part as a result of FIFA's terms for any countries, cities and stadiums hosting of a World Cup it is of little surprise as to why these countries come to be hosts of this event(and more than likely future Olympics). The situation has only been exacerbated by the fact that by then the World Cup will be a 48 team event.

It was only yesterday that I posted this on the MMT

In many ways it is no surprise that it is America that is the first place to kick-back at FIFA of the financial terms it seeks to force upon host countries/cities/stadiums for the world cup - like the Olympics they have become used to being a law unto themselves - but like the Olympics they have become far too expensive for almost all democracies to host, and certainly have a track record for leaving hosts in deep post event financial trauma.

Kroenkes in dispute with FIFA over SoFi Stadium deal for 2026 World Cup
https://archive.ph/gVTeJ

as for 2038 the truly obvious bidder given the qualifying criteria you suggest (and the fact that a member of the Asian Federation cannot bid for consecutive events) is the UK

[Anonymous Claret]

Or it could be the other way where the Australian bidding committee have been informed substantial deposits have been made to FIFA offshore accounts from Saudi meaning an Australia bid would not be worth it.

That's probably more likely. Or it could be a combination of both?

[Funkydrummer]

This demonstrates one of the benefits of getting old.

By 2034 I'll be too old to give a sh!t where it's held, or indeed if its held at all.

[Pickles]

Don't mind a winter World Cup, it should be held in as many places as possible. It's a World Cup. Whether Saudi Arabia should be on the list is a different conversation.

[SydneyClaret]

Unfortunately the AFC and the majority of its members supported the Saudi bud over an Australian one. Given the public outrage at the money spent on their last losing bid to Qatar, Australia rightly decided not to bid for this one as the chances of beating the oil state it is between slim and none. As someone mentioned it’s probably a done deal. Sounds like Australia has been promised the Club World Cup as a sweetener.

[Falcon]

Australia could do with re-joining OFC. For two reasons

- OFC are now guaranteed 1 automatic qualification spot (+1 play off spot) since future WCs have been expanded to 48 teams.
- OFC nations will be eligible to bid for the 2038 WC whereas AFC nations are now locked out of bidding until 2046.

[SydneyClaret]

I’ll pass on the OFC. There’s literally no competition in it and games are win by rugby scores. Even New Zealand aren’t really at Australia’s level. Most here think the OFC should just merge with the AFC.

[Clarets4me]

" Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Saudi Arabia's sports minister, said the bid "constitutes an important and natural step in our journey as a country passionate about football". "

Saudi Pro League - Al-Ettifaq 0 - 1 Al-Riyadh ( Attendance - 696 )
Northern Prem - Div 1 West - Clitheroe 2 - 1 Newcastle Town ( Attendance - 702 )

Passionate indeed !!

[rufus lumley]

Just seen the result of the final Newcastle United 0 Al Riyadh 1

[aggi]

I wonder why Australia have decided to pull out of the bidding?

The cynic in me says that those behind the Australia bid have received substantial deposits in their offshore accounts.

If it is in Saudi Arabia, as with Qatar I won't watch 1 minute of it.

The whole process was set up to enable Saudi Arabia to win it. Australia would have just been throwing money away with their bid.

[ebby]

The whole process was set up to enable Saudi Arabia to win it. Australia would have just been throwing money away with their bid.

Australia spent over £22M on our bid for the 2022 cup. We got one vote!

[bfcjg]

Will the women's world Cup be there?

[Falcon]

Womens WC is bid for and voted on separately to the Mens WC - but no doubt they'll put in for it at some point.

Suspect it'll be a harder sell than for the blokes one, given the state of women's rights over there.

[aggi]

Womens WC is bid for and voted on separately to the Mens WC - but no doubt they'll put in for it at some point.

Suspect it'll be a harder sell than for the blokes one, given the state of women's rights over there.

Women's football, at the moment at least, also seems a fair bit more principled than men's football.

[SingaporeClarets]

https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/indones ... singapore/

Off the cards then ?

[ebby]

Women's football, at the moment at least, also seems a fair bit more principled than men's football.

We had almost sixty thousand fans on Sunday at Perth Stadium in Western Australia for an Women’s Olympic qualifier. Australia v Phillipines. Australia won 8-0.

[JohnMac]

Absolutely disgusting if Saudi Arabia get the 2034 World Cup.

In recent years we've had Russia Qatar and now it looks like Saudi Arabia.

Whoever next? Any other disgusting countries with shed loads of money want to put their names forward for 2038?

North Korea will be tipping up next

[kentonclaret]

Given the way that Climate Change seems to be accelerating it will probably be 130 degrees in Saudi Arabia by 2034

[kentonclaret]

We had almost sixty thousand fans on Sunday at Perth Stadium in Western Australia for an Women’s Olympic qualifier. Australia v Phillipines. Australia won 8-0.

Women’s football is Australia’s only real prospect of winning a major trophy in the sport so it comes as no real surprise.

[AfloatinClaret]

Given the way that Climate Change seems to be accelerating it will probably be 130 degrees in Saudi Arabia by 2034

Yea, but they could still play the games at St James' Park and Bramhall Lane; probably own a good few more by then too.

[claretburns]

That's probably more likely. Or it could be a combination of both?

Not sure, all that we can be sure on is that some money has been put in pockets somewhere.

[Carwin261]

Lineker ,Henderson,Neville and the rest will be booking their flights anytime soon then they’ll be back on the tv spouting about workers rights and supporting LGBGT ,Kane will be getting is rainbow laces out until it’s costing him,then he’ll tow the line,and James Trafford may be just about good enough to get in the provisional squad .

[Rileybobs]

Lineker ,Henderson,Neville and the rest will be booking their flights anytime soon then they’ll be back on the tv spouting about workers rights and supporting LGBGT ,Kane will be getting is rainbow laces out until it’s costing him,then he’ll tow the line,and James Trafford may be just about good enough to get in the provisional squad .

Just checked and flights from the UK to Saudi Arabia haven’t even been scheduled for 2033 yet.

[bfcjg]

Camels grunt, are you listening?
On the pitch, sand is glistening
A beautiful sight ?
We're roasting tonight
Sweating in a FIFA wonderland
Gone away is the beer word
Here to stay is the tea word
If you sing a rude song
While you stroll along
20 lashes in a FIFA wonderland
In the desert, we can build a sandman
We'll pretend that he is Mullah Brown
He'll say, are you married?
We'll say, no man
20 lashes more when you're in town
Later on, we'll perspire
The hotels' like a fire
Not straight ? Be afraid
Because the plans that they've made
Sweating in a FIFA wonderland.

OK I'm bored.
On the upside with the very worrying levels of football violence we won't witness any , but apart from that I'm really struggling to find any positives.

[kentonclaret]

By 2034 Eddie Howe will have left Newcastle and will probably have been installed as the England manager. Perhaps we’ll get a bye straight to the Final.

[Lip]

I give up!! Another stain on the corruption in football.

[Sleeping Cat]

The whole process was set up to enable Saudi Arabia to win it. Australia would have just been throwing money away with their bid.

This. I read that Australia were the only bidders until FIFA fast tracked a bid by Saudi Arabia late in the process to get them in the reckoning. It's been viewed by Australian officials that the tournament is already Saudi Arabia's.

[jojomk1]

Infantino is no better than Blatter

More money into a Saudi pension pot

Beckham for Ambassador

[timshorts]

We had almost sixty thousand fans on Sunday at Perth Stadium in Western Australia for an Women’s Olympic qualifier. Australia v Phillipines. Australia won 8-0.

And yet the Philippines are now second in the group with 6 points from three games.

[Ampth7]

FIFA……….?corrupt……….? Surely not!!

I personally don’t care where FIFA ‘decide’ who gets to host World Cups because I can’t change it and FIFA will never change! I just hope we don’t bid for it again and waste millions like we did last time.

Sadly, once corruption is as deep rooted as it is in an organisation the size and wealth of FIFA, it can’t and won’t be changed. They just get better at hiding away their dodgy deals with their hot shot accountants.

[Gaia]

Building a load of new stadiums like they did in Qatar what a total waste. Should never have been awarded for that reason.

[CoolClaret]

Slowly losing interest in Football, it must be said.

[CnBtruntru]

" Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Saudi Arabia's sports minister, said the bid "constitutes an important and natural step in our journey as a country passionate about football". "

Saudi Pro League - Al-Ettifaq 0 - 1 Al-Riyadh ( Attendance - 696 )
Northern Prem - Div 1 West - Clitheroe 2 - 1 Newcastle Town ( Attendance - 702 )

Passionate indeed !!

You forgot about the half time entertainment, 2 wives stoned to death and five hands chopped off, just another day in paradise

[evensteadiereddie]

This. I read that Australia were the only bidders until FIFA fast tracked a bid by Saudi Arabia late in the process to get them in the reckoning. It's been viewed by Australian officials that the tournament is already Saudi Arabia's.

The ahem, rules regarding the bidding process have been manipulated and changed to ensure the only realistic bid could have been from the Saudis.
Rotation meant Asia would have the 2034 WC and FIFA announced, rather unexpectedly, that bidders would have four weeks to submit entries.
The Saudis responded, apparently, within minutes.
The rule regarding suitable stadia was suddenly changed from "a minimum of 14 suitable stadiums, of which at least seven must be existing stadiums"
Those stadia would each need a capacity of 40,000.
It became"of the 14 suitable stadiums, any bid must propose a minimum of of four existing stadiums" which, almost as of by magic, meant the Saudis suddenly complied with the process.
As many have said, the higher echelons of world football stink to high heaven.
I sincerely hope that the game, at both international and Premier League levels implodes spectacularly well before 2034.