Qatar Gets 2022 World Cup Bid; Moscow Takes 2018 FIFA Games! (Dec. 2)

Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup games, which may have many here in the United States in a, well, state of shock right now. The United States was also in the running for a FIFA World Cup bid, but was cast aside in favor of Russia for 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

Qatar Will Host 2022 World Cup, Moscow Gets 2018 Games

Some, including contributor Max Kellerman on CNN today, feel corruption played a part in the decision for Qatar to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. "Russia getting the bid might make sense," Kellerman explained, but the Qatar bid for 2022 smells fishy to him. Or rather, oily. According to Kellerman, petroleum influence and a bunch of money may have been the deciding factor in the World Cup bids.

FIFA investigations into corruption allegations, including vote tampering when it came to the World Cup bids, have resulted in some suspensions, such as those of voting members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii. In the meantime, Kellerman (and others) find it curious Qatar, a small, isolated Arab peninsula that seems to literally grow directly out of Saudi Arabia like an extra limb, would garner the 13 votes needed to secure it's place.

Then again, like any peninsula, all of Qatar is surrounded by beautiful beachfront. The waters of the Persian Gulf lap the shores, and all of a sudden your World Cup travels include a relaxing beach trip.

If you're an American soccer fan, what do you think about the 2022 World Cup bid selection? Are you willing to travel to the Middle East to see the FIFA 2022 games? While we predict many die-hard soccer fans may be willing to travel to Moscow, we are less certain about Qatar, and would love feedback.

Source:

CNN - broadcast 12/2/2010