Whether you’re a sports fan or not, you probably know about the various world cup host countries that will host the sport in the near future. Some of these countries include South Africa, Brazil, North America, and even Qatar. These are all places that have had to face some pretty harsh criticism for hosting the tournament.
Qatar
Despite some allegations, Qatar’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup have been top-notch. From the construction of stadiums and hotels to the hiring of foreign coaches and data analysts, the country has devoted billions of petrodollars to sport. The end result is a tournament that will draw billions of fans and millions of tourists.
The World Cup will be the first World Cup held in the Middle East. The region has four Formula 1 races scheduled for the next year. It also will be home to the region’s first smart city.
The 2022 World Cup may well be the most technologically advanced sporting event in history. Qatar spent $220 billion to build its stadiums, hotels and other infrastructure. It has also bankrolled a professional football league with superstar coaches. Its national team has also embraced immigrants, naturalizing the sons of migrants.
The first World Cup held in an Arab Muslim country may be a watershed moment for the region. It also represents a shift in the global soccer influence. Soccer power nexus widens from the Global North to the South.
In the run-up to the World Cup, Qatar made a few other bold moves. It has a smart city plan, the world’s largest gas field and a world-class training center. The country is also expected to become carbon-neutral by the end of the tournament.
The World Cup is a major turning point for Qatar. The country’s booming economy and its wealth derived from the export of liquefied natural gas make it one of the richest countries in the world. The country’s GDP per capita is the highest in the world.
The World Cup is also the first of its kind to be held in an Arab Muslim country. In addition to the stadiums, Qatar has built an airport and hired a host of foreign coaches to prepare its national team.
South Africa
Having hosted the World Cup, South Africa has become a member of the global community. But it is not all rosy. The country is still struggling with poverty, corruption and mismanagement. Despite its triumph, South Africa is still riven by inequality. It has suffered from xenophobic violence. It also is experiencing a financial crisis. It is estimated that 40% of the country’s workers are unemployed.
The nation suffered a massive power shortage. Power cuts occurred on 91 out of 243 days. This was a problem that worsened during the tournament.
Xenophobic violence broke out across the country in May 2008, killing 62 African migrants. This was followed by the outbreak of a pandemic, which forced the rescheduling of national team competitions.
FIFA recommended the Gautrain to host the World Cup, which became fully operational in 2011. It connects 10 stations in Johannesburg and Tshwane. It is said to have cost $1.7 billion, more than triple the original estimate of $406 million.
Despite the huge investment, South Africa is not even qualified for the World Cup in Qatar. Instead, the national team will play a match against Ecuador.
The tournament also highlighted the notions of exclusion in South Africa. Cricket was seen as a predominantly white sport, while soccer was viewed as a predominantly black sport. However, this will change in the future.
The country had not qualified for the World Cup since 2002. It also failed to advance to the quarter-finals in the last four AFCON tournaments.
South Africa is a middle-income country. However, it has a relatively insignificant population. It is the worst-affected country in Africa. It is estimated that 84,000 people die each year.
Europe
Among the four confederations, Europe has been the most consistent host of the World Cup. It has hosted a total of twenty-one World Cup tournaments since 1930. The first World Cup was held in 1930, with Uruguay winning the title. In 1938, Italy won the championship.
European teams have won the most World Cups, with seven titles for the continent. Only two nations from North America have ever won a title, and only one nation from Africa has ever claimed the crown.
The first World Cup was held in 1930, and featured sixteen teams. During the 1950s, the tournament was held on both sides of the Atlantic. A three-week boat trip took teams from South America to Europe. In 1962, Chile finished third. In 1970, Mexico reached the quarterfinals. In 1998, Mexico qualified for the knockout rounds.
The World Cup finals are the most watched sporting event in the world. The tournament involves 32 national teams, and lasts for a month.
The tournament has been divided into groups of four teams each. The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout rounds.
The World Cup has been a great success for the host nation. They benefit from a home field advantage and a supportive crowd. The tournament has a multi-billion dollar revenue stream.
The World Cup has also served as a platform for promoting diversity in society. Ten European teams said their captains would wear an armband in UEFA-organized games. A heart-shaped armband is also used to promote inclusion.
The World Cup is considered the single most important sporting event in the world. However, there are some people who believe that bringing it to their own country is unethical. They argue that culture takes generations to develop.
North America
Earlier this month, FIFA announced that North America will host the 2026 World Cup. The tournament will be played in Mexico, Canada and the United States. It will feature 48 teams, with the majority of matches taking place in the United States.
It’s the first time that three countries have hosted a men’s World Cup in 32 years. The three countries’ joint bid, known as the United 2026, beat out a competing bid by Morocco. The bid emphasized the advantages of using large stadiums for the event, as well as the ease of logistics involved.
The tournament is set to begin in November and run through December. The United States will host the majority of matches, while Canada and Mexico will each host a handful of matches in the group stage.
The United 2026 bid was an incredibly competitive process. The final vote was taken at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow. FIFA member countries voted for the three countries over Morocco. The bid was officially awarded on June 13, 2018.
The United 2026 bid beat out competing bids from Mexico and Morocco. The joint bid was named the United Bid, in part because the three countries are united by a shared history. In addition to highlighting the benefits of hosting the event, the bid also highlighted the economic impact of the event on North America. A study from the U.S. soccer study group found that the World Cup presence in North America could create up to $5 billion in economic activity.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in 16 different cities across North America. Each host city has a chance to host a game or two, though no final plans have been set in stone.
Women’s World Cup
Unlike the men’s FIFA World Cup, the Women’s World Cup is contested by senior women’s national teams. Teams from six FIFA confederations will compete for a place in the finals. During the group stage, each team will play two matches, with the winner earning a direct berth to the finals. During the knockout stage, the top two teams in each group advance.
During the intercontinental playoffs, seven teams will participate: two teams from the Asia-Pacific region, two teams from Africa, and two teams from Concacaf. The top two teams in each of the three groups will advance to the Women’s World Cup finals.
The Women’s World Cup will be held in Australia and New Zealand. This is the first time the event will be held in the Southern Hemisphere. There will be 64 games played at ten venues in nine cities. The opening match will be played at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
The finals will be played at Stadium Australia in Sydney. The trophy weighs 47 cm (19 in) tall and features a spiral band with names of previous winners. The trophy was designed for the 1999 tournament and was first used in 1998. It features a cone-shaped base and a spiral band with football at the top.
The Women’s World Cup will feature the highest number of teams ever to participate in one tournament. The tournament will have 32 teams in 2023. There will be five debuts at the finals.
The draw will be held in October. As of 8th September, 27 of 32 nations have qualified. The remaining qualifiers will be determined in February. The final decision will be made by FIFA before the end of 2022.
