The US got cheated

This past December the final voting to select which nations would host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup's took place. As you have probably heard, the US finished second behind Qatar in the bid to host the 2022 tournament. Qatar is a tiny country (a little smaller than Connecticut) that has become very wealthy through the oil industry (it's GDP per capita is nearly double that of the U.S.).

The results of both votes (England lost in it's bid to host the 2018 tournament to Russia) has raised talk of bribery and corruption within the FIFA ranks. The recent presidential election for FIFA saw Mohammed bin Hammam (who was born in Qatar and remains a citizen) withdraw from the race at the 11th hour amid allegations of bribing nations with cash payments for their votes for Qatar in the 2022 bidding process.

The reason such talk has occurred began as Qatar was seen by many  FIFA executives to be an unsuitable host. As this tournament has been traditionally been hosted in June and July, allowing a country where the average temperature in those months is 115 °F raises a host of health concerns. Some executives have said that Qatar would be allowed to host the tournament in the winter in order to aovid the heat, a propsal that would not only outrage soccer fans globally but affect nearly all major European league schedules as they play through the winter. Today FIFA has announced it is considering a proposal to play these games in three 30-minute periods as opposed to two 45-minute halves. This would be done to allow players to re-hydrate in the heat. I can appreciate FIFA's concern for health but it is outrageous to consider completely changing the fabric of the game to justify the selection of the host nation. 


Along with weather concerns, Qatar outlaws homosexuality meaning any traveling fans who are homosexuals face the possibility of arrest should their sexual orientation be discovered. Consumption of alcohol is also illegal in the country, which doesn't sit well with visiting fans. 


In the end, I hope that the problems continue to snowball for FIFA with their selection of Qatar as the host nation and that they ultimately decide that the US will be allowed to host the event. I wasn't old enough in 1994 to appreciate hosting the world's most watched and followed sporting event and would love the opportunity to watch these games on US soil. 


Though if the US gets to play games in a stadium like this, I won't complain nearly as much

Al-Shamal Stadium in Qatar (expected to open in 2017)