retired_bball3378

Given that all continents are not equal and the fact that this will now improve the quality of bids (as there will be some real level of competition) it was a correct and inevitable u-turn.

DWPN

retired_hvporter

Holland, Belgium, Australia and the UAE have never held it. </BLOCKQUOTE>

but OMG it's England!!!!! They have a god given RIGHT to host the thing you know! </BLOCKQUOTE>I don't think it is a God-given right to host it. But the football market is well-developed in England, the demand is there, the stadia are there, the infrastructure is (nearly) there. So it is well-placed to host the tournament.

retired_oist_rohan

Holland, Belgium, Australia and the UAE have never held it. </BLOCKQUOTE>

but OMG it's England!!!!! They have a god given RIGHT to host the thing you know! </BLOCKQUOTE>I don't think it is a God-given right to host it. But the football market is well-developed in England, the demand is there, the stadia are there, the infrastructure is (nearly) there. So it is well-placed to host the tournament. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Good point Gav, but in the end WC 2018 will go to the Netherlands (with Belgium) :p

retired_jabda

All the same applies to Holland/Belgium, plus they have never held it.

retired_marleysghost

Tim Vickery said on World Football Phone-In that the rotation was only to give Africa a world cup, and that after 2010 there'd be no need for the rotation.

Makes sense as beyond South Africa in Africa, Brazil in South America, USA/Mexico in North America and Australia in Oceania there really aren't many more countries outside Europe capable/deserving of a tournament

retired_derek

Again, i'd completely agree with you, but that's a logical argument as to why England should host it, where as The_Fish's reason is like the ramblings of an insane person.

retired_bemesel

Headline:

"England have outside chance of qualifying for 2018 WC!"

retired_hvporter

Again, i'd completely agree with you, but that's a logical argument as to why England should host it, where as The_Fish's reason is like the ramblings of an insane person. </BLOCKQUOTE>I agree, and I agree with Finneys too. All of the countries I mentioned earlier have everything in place to stage the tournament. Perhaps out of all of those being mooted by the press, only Russia and China don't - although they have the finance and will-power to put things in place for 2018. Although with China it will be interesting to see how well-organised the Olympics will be. If they are anything like the Asian Cup in 2004, then FIFA should avoid the place.

As for qualification, I propose this:
Europe: 8 automatic,
Americas: 6 automatic
Africa: 4 automatic
Asia/Oceania: 4 automatic
Hosts and holders: 2

This makes 24, leaving 8 places for the repechages. Entries for these will be open to the best-place qualifiers on the following basis:
Europe: 14, Americas: 6, Africa: 6, Asia/Oceania: 6.

Groups of 4, all matches played in the same stadium in the same city at a mutually-agreed or a FIFA-chsoen venue. Winner of each group qualifies.

retired_derek

You've completely lost me now Gav.

Skoooby

The rotation policy was the payoff to get Blatter re-elected.