2018 FIFA World Cup bids

This article concerns the process for determining the site of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which will be the 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup. Bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups will close in 2009, and the executive committee of FIFA will make their decision on both editions before June 2011.cite news |url= http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/bodies/news/newsid=783630.html#joint+decision+2018+2022+fifa+world+cups |title= Joint decision on 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups |publisher= FIFA |date=2008-05-30 |accessdate=2008-05-30] Nations that have announced their interest include
Australia, England, [cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4438540.stm |title= FA yet to make 2018 bid decision |work= BBC Sport |date= November 15, 2005 |accessdate= 2007-10-28] Qatar, and Russia. The Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) have expressed interest in bidding together, as have Portugal and Spain. [cite news |url=http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/seleccion/es/desarrollo/1090960.html |title= Spain and Portugal, united to World Cup 2018 |work= Diario Marca |date= February 17, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-02-18] FIFA expects several other countries to announce their intent before the 2009 closing date, including
China, [cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/6403761.stm |work= BBC News |date= February 28, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-05-31 |title= Blatter knocks England 2018 hopes] Canada, [cite news |publisher= TSN |url=http://www.tsn.ca/tools/print_story.asp?id=198082 |title= Blatter discusses 2018 World Cup bid |work= Canadian Press |date= February 28, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-02-28] Japan, Mexico, and the United States. [Citation |last=Wade |first=Stephen |title=U.S remains firm in 2018 World Cup bid plans; China also considering a bid |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2007-09-30-4130214363_x.htm |publisher="USA Today" |date=2007-09-30 |accessdate=2008-08-25]

On October 29 2007, FIFA announced that it is ending the rotation policy, with countries from the continental confederations of the previous two hosts, CAF and CONMEBOL, being ineligible. [cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7067187.stm |work= BBC News |date= October 29, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-10-29 |title= Fifa abandons World Cup rotation ] Other factors in the selection process include the number of suitable stadia, and their location across candidate nations. Due to the number of bids already received by FIFA, this World Cup is expected to be the most hotly contested bid ever, mainly due to the revision in FIFA's rotation policy. As a result, Sepp Blatter has said that FIFA may follow the International Olympic Committee and have a preliminary elimination of bids some time before the final ceremony. [cite news |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2007/11/27/sfnwcp127.xml |work= The Daily Telegraph |date= November 27, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-11-27 |title= Portugal and Spain to Launch Rival 2018 Bid ]

Rotation policy

Following the selection of the 2006 World Cup hosts, FIFA decided on new policy for determining the host of future world cups. The six world confederations, roughly corresponding to continents, would rotate, with the host country being selected from the confederation's members. This system was only used for the selection of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. In September 2007, the rotation system came under review when it was proposed that only the last two World Cup host confederations be ineligible. [cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7013110.stm |title= New rotation proposal |work= BBC Sport |date= September 25, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-10-22] This proposal was adopted on October 29, 2007 in Zürich, Switzerland by FIFA's Executive Committee. Under this policy, a 2018 bid can come from North America, Asia, Europe, or Oceania, as the 2010 hosts, Africa, and the 2014 hosts, South America, are ineligible.cite news |url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/australia-can-host-world-cup/2005/09/17/1126750168444.html |title= Australia can host World Cup |first= Matthew |last= Hall |date= 18 September, 2005|accessdate= 2007-10-22]

Bidding nations

Australia

Football Federation Australia have confirmed that Australia will officially bid for the 2018 World Cup finals. [cite news |url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/socceroos-stars-coming-home-for-two-matches/2006/09/21/1158431837576.html |title= Socceroos' stars coming home for two matches |work= Sydney Morning Herald |date= September 21, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-10-28] In late May 2006, the Victorian sports minister, Justin Madden, said that he wanted his state to drive a bid to stage the 2018 World Cup. He was quoted as saying "If FIFA is serious about growing the game in the Asia-Pacific region, then the time cannot be too far away where they need to move into the region", and "Where else would they put it but Australia?" [cite news |url= http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18610070-31903,00.html |work= Fox Sports Australia |title= Melbourne keen to kick a goal] FFA chief Ben Buckley has said that Australia are preparing to launch a bid to host the 2018 tournament.cite news |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/30/2075848.htm?section=sport |title= Australia eyes off 2018 Cup bid |work= ABC/Reuters |date= October 30, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-10-30]

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has formally announced the Federal Government's support for the bid."Winning the right to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup is a herculean task, but overcoming tough odds is what Australian football does best," he said. [cite news |url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/pm-makes-the-perfect-pitch-for-world-cup/2008/02/23/1203467452577.html |title= PM makes the perfect pitch for World Cup |work= Sydney Morning Herald |date= February 28, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-02-28] Frank Lowy stated that they are aiming to use 16 stadiums for the bid. [cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23259207-5006068,00.html|title=Lowy's vision for soccer|date=2008-02-23|accessdate=2008-03-02|publisher=The Daily Telegraph] At the 58th FIFA Congress held in Sydney, FIFA president Sepp Blatter stated "As the next two World Cups will be in the southern hemisphere, it is perhaps logical that Australia concentrates on the 2022 tournament." Lowy responded by recommitting Australia to its 2018 bid. [cite news |url= http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/21/2281753.htm?section=sport |title= FFA to press on with 2018 Cup bid: Lowy |date= June 21, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-06-21 |work= ABC News]

Australia hosted the OFC Nations Cup twice (1998, and 2004), and four-way co-hosted once (1996). Australia has also enjoyed success hosting other major sporting events recently, with the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne and the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Australia is likely to host the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which could be used as a test event for the World Cup.

Belgium and the Netherlands

Alain Courtois, a Belgian Member of Parliament in charge of the bid and a leader of the organisation committee for Euro 2000 (jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands), announced in October 2006 that a formal bid would be made for the Benelux trio, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=385813&cc=5901|title=Benelux trio to apply to host 2018 World Cup|date=2006-10-16|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2006-10-18] In June 2007, the three countries launched their campaign not as a joint bid in the manner of the Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002, but as a common political organization. [cite news |url= http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=441938&campaign=rss&source=soccernet&&cc=5901 |title= Benelux countries launch 2018 World Cup bid |work= ESPN |date= June 27, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-10-29] A delegation led by the presidents of the Belgian and Dutch national football associations met FIFA president Sepp Blatter on November 14, 2007, officially announcing their interest in submitting a joint bid. [cite web |url= http://fifa.com/worldfootball/releases/newsid=637931.html |title= Associations of Belgium and the Netherlands officially announce interest in submitting joint bid |date= November 14, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-11-14] On March 19 2008 the delegation also met with UEFA President Michel Platini to convince him it is a serious offer under one management. Afterwards they claimed to have impressed Platini, who supports the idea of getting the world cup to Europe. [cite web |url= http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza.be/voetbal/1.273169 |title= Ons dossier maakte indruk bij Platini |date= March 19, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-03-23] Luxembourg would not host any matches or automatically qualify for the finals in a successful Benelux bid, but would host a FIFA congress. [cite web |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7095242.stm |title= Benelux countries want World Cup |date= November 14, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-11-14]

On June 5 2008, Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme had several meetings concerning the 2018 World Cup bid by Belgium and the Netherlands. One of those meetings was with a delegation from both FIFA and UEFA with amongst those delegations Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini. In this meeting the only real conclusion was that not one country had at that moment submitted an official bid. Other meetings of the prime minister were with project leader Alain Courtois, who claims that "after Africa and South-America it is not unlikely that the World Cup will return to Europe, which means the chances of the Belgium-Netherlands bid succeeding have gone up", with the mayor of the city of Brussels Freddy Thielemans and with SNCB leader Jannie Haek. Leterme met with Thielemans and Haek to discuss plans for a new 60.000-seater stadium in Brussels, for which there are three possibilities, the first one would be to renovate and expand the current King Baudouin Stadium, the second would be to build a new stadium on the Heysel and the third would be to build one on the property of the SNCB in the municipality of Schaerbeek. As a whole, Leterme stated that Belgium should get 4 stadiums with a capacity of 40.000 together with the new 60.000-seater stadium in Brussels. [cite web |url= http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/950/Buitenlands-Voetbal/article/detail/302456/2008/06/05/Leterme-zet-zich-in-voor-WK-kandidatuur-Belgie.dhtml |language=dutch |title= Leterme zet zich in voor WK-kandidatuur België |date= June 5, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-06-05]

England

England's World Cup proposal has been mooted as early as May 2004, when David Will, a vice-president of FIFA, told the Press AssociationIn November 2005, Adrian Bevington, the Football Association's Director of Communications, announced:Current prime minister, Gordon Brown, and Sport Minister, Tessa Jowell, announced they were to take the first step towards bidding to host the event on 18 November 2005. [cite web|url=http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2005/press_96_05.cfm| title=Government launches work on 2018 bid| work=HM Treasury|date=18 November 2005|accessdate=2007-10-29] Brown reiterated his support for a bid in March 2006, before England's 2006 World Cup campaign,cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/wembley/newsandfeatures/Postings/2006/03|title=Heroes of '66 reunited|publisher=The FA|accessdate=2007-10-29|date=21 March 2006|author=Mark Whittle] and again in May 2006. [cite web |url= http://www2.goldmansachs.com/insight/research/reports/docs/WCB2006.pdf |title= The World Cup and Economics 2006 |work=Goldman Sachs |date=3 May 2006 |type= pdf |accessdate=2007-10-29] The UK government launched its official report on 12 February 2007, where it was made clear that their support was for an England-only bid and that all games would be played at English grounds. [cite news |url= http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=231742007 |title= Chancellor's World Cup fever fails to grip the Scots |work= The Scotsman |date=2007-02-13 |accessdate= 2007-10-28] Richard Caborn will lead England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup after stepping down as Sports Minister. [cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6249864.stm |title= Caborn to spearhead World Cup bid |work= BBC Sport |date= June 28, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-10-28]
Franz Beckenbauer, who led Germany's successful bid for the 2006 World Cup and a member of FIFA's Executive Committee, has twice backed an English bid to host the World Cup, in January 2007, [cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6307237.stm |title= Beckenbauer will back England bid |work= BBC Sport |date= January 28, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-10-28] and July 2007, when he said "In my opinion, there is only one very serious candidate and it is England. I think there is not really a problem to pick a host of the 2018 World Cup." [cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6921154.stm |title= England gets Beckenbauer backing |work= BBC Sport |date= July 29, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-10-28] FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said he would welcome a 2018 bid from "the homeland of football"; [cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4208814.stm | title= Blatter Welcomes England Cup Bid | work= BBC Sport | date= September 2, 2005| accessdate= 2007-10-30] he met Gordon Brown on 24 October 2007 to discuss the bid while paying a visit to England. [cite news |url= http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/sports/live-sport-reports/2007/10/23/world-cup-bid-on-brown-s-agenda-91466-19997115/ |title= World Cup bid on Brown's agenda |date= October 23, 2007 |work= icWales |accessdate= 2007-10-28] On 31 October2007, the FA officially announced that it will bid to host the event. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7070874.stm BBC Sport: "England to bid for 2018 World Cup"] ] [cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/world_cup/article2779563.ece |title=FA confirms 2018 World Cup Bid |publisher=The Times |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2007-10-31]

England has previously hosted the 1966 World Cup and Euro '96, as well as failing to win the bid for the 2006 World Cup. Should England succeed, it would be the sixth nation to host the World Cup for a second time. If the World Cup were to be held in England, it would form part of a 'Golden Decade' in British Sport, after London secured the 2012 Summer Olympics and Glasgow secured the 2014 Commonwealth Games.It was reported on April 24, 2008 that England has finalized a 63 page bid to host the 2018 World Cup, focusing on the development of football worldwide. [cite news |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AjRl4htjIVNdu.daSX4XAgQmw7YF?slug=ap-england-2018worldcup&prov=ap&type=lgns |title= England plans its 2018 World Cup bid |publisher= Yahoo! |work= Associated Press |date= April 24, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-04-29]

North America

Mexico's former FEMEXFUT President, Alberto de la Torre, announced their intention to bid for the cup in 2005.cite news | url=http://www2.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html?id_nota=268818&tabla=notas | work=El Universal | title=México sí buscará el Mundial, pero en el 2018 | accessdate=2007-10-23 | date=2005-02-17 | language=Spanish] . Although they originally planned to bid for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the bid was changed due to Brazil's successful bid.. If chosen, it would become the first country to host the World Cup for a third time. Currently Mexico is working on thirteen new stadiums, such as Monterrey Soccer Arena, New Chivas de Guadalajara Stadium, New Stadium of Santos Laguna, New Stadium of Cruz Azul.

The USSF said in February 2007 that it would put forth a bid for the 2018 World Cup.cite news |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/19/AR2007021900914.html |title= U.S. to Seek World Cup | work=Washington Post | first=Steven | last=Goff | date=2007-02-20 | accessdate=2007-10-28] The United States previously hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup, almost every CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the 1999 and 2003 FIFA Women's World Cups. The vice president of FIFA, Jack Warner, who is also the president of CONCACAF, originally said he would try to bring the World Cup back to the CONCACAF region. [cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/6939170.stm | title=Caborn hits back at Warner attack | work=BBC Sport | date=2007-08-10 | accessdate=2007-10-28] However, Warner also stated that he would prefer if the USSF changed their plans to make a bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. [cite news | url=http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8204792/Warner-wants-U.S.-to-bid-for-2022-World-Cup | title=Warner wants U.S. to bid for 2022 World Cup | date= | work=Fox Sports | accessdate=2008-06-04]

If the rotation system was still in place, Canada would theoretically be in contention. However, Canada has not indicated whether it will make a bid despite demand from Canadians for the CSA to put the country forward. Canada's previous hosting experience is limited to the relatively minor, yet successful 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship, the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, for which Canada set attendance records. [cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/fifau20/story/2007/07/20/fifa-canada-attendance-record.html | title=Canada sets U-20 World Cup attendance record | date=2007-07-20 | work=CBC Sports | accessdate=2008-06-22] According to the FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Canada is among several nations interested in bidding for the 2018 World Cup. [cite news | url=http://tsn.ca/soccer/news_story/?ID=223703&hubname= | title= Blatter: Canada wants to host 2018 WC | work=The Sports Network | date=2007-11-26 | accessdate=2008-06-22] His comments prompted surprise from the CSA, which previously had not indicated interest in bidding. [cite news |url=http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/280152 | title=Canada caught off guard by Blatter | date=2007-11-27 | work=Toronto Star | accessdate=2008-06-22 | first=Cathal | last=Kelly] . FIFA president Joseph Blatter stated on 2008-10-06 that the 2018 World Cup will not be hosted in North America due to its proximity to 2014 host Brazil, thereby excluding Canada, USA, and Mexico from a possible nomination, but the decision also places the North American countries in solid position to host in 2022. [cite news | last=Casert | first=Raf | title=New World Cup bidding system in the making | url=http://http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAGnJS1lfwB8vCMt4x2WfKZmvpcwD93L65K80 | work=Google | publisher=Associated Press | date=2008-10-06 | accessdate=2008-10-07]

pain and Portugal

The President of the Portuguese Football Federation, Gilberto Madail, proposed a joint bid with Spain, and the proposition was supported by the presidents of the Professional Clubs of Spain. [cite news |url= http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=485193&cc=3888 |title= Iberian threat to England's 2018 World Cup bid |work= ESPN |date= November 27, 2007 |accessdate= 2007-11-27] [cite news |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/27/sfnwcp127.xml |title= Portugal and Spain to launch rival 2018 bid |work= The Daily Telegraph |date= November 27, 2007 |accessdate= 2008-06-21 |first= David |last= Bond] The bid was confirmed by FIFA president Sepp Blatter on February 18, 2008. [cite news |url= http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/seleccion/es/desarrollo/1090960.html |title=España y Portugal se unen para pedir el Mundial de 2018 |work= Marca |date= February 18, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-02-18] Furthermore, the president of the Spanish Football Federation announced on July 16, 2008 that indeed it was the intention of the Federation to run a bid for the World Cup for Spain and that positive contacts had already taken place with the government through the Secretary of Sports, Jaime Lissavetzky. However, no specifications were made regarding a joint bid with Portugal. [cite news |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/Villar/confirma/contactos/Lissavetzky/organizar/Mundial/2018/elpepudep/20080716elpepudep_10/Tes |title=Villar confirma contactos con Lissavetzky para organizar el Mundial 2018 |work= El País |date= July 16, 2008 |accessdate= 2008-07-16]

Eight of the accredited 5-star UEFA Stadiums are located in Portugal and Spain, which is the most of any current European-based bid. The three South American members of FIFA's 24-man executive committee, who will decide on the hosts in 2011, have said that the Latin Europe bid can count on support from them. [cite news |url= http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/27112007/1/spain-portugal-eye-world-cup-bid.html |title= Spain and Portugal eye World Cup bid |publisher= Yahoo! Eurosport UK |date= November 27, 2007 |accessdate= 2008-06-21] This may possibly be due to the favourable language and cultural ties between Latin America with Portugal and Spain. Spain has previously hosted the World Cup in 1982, while Portugal have yet to be a host but have hosted Euro 2004. So if Spain succeed with Portugal, it would be the sixth nation to host the World Cup for a second time.

References

External links

Official websites
* [http://www.fifa.com FIFA Official website]
* [http://www.beltomundial.org Belgium Official website]

Unofficial websites
* [http://www.2018england.co.uk England 2018 World Cup Bid]
* [http://www.wkvoetbal2018.com/ The Netherlands wants worldcup 2018]
* [http://www.2018canada.com Canada 2018 World Cup Bid]
* [http://www.iberia2018.pt.vu Portugal and Spain 2018 World Cup Bid]