“People should understand that Qatar had the best bid, and Qatar will provide and will do one of the best World Cups in history. And I’m sure about that. People don’t want to accept, don’t want torealize that a small country, Arab, Muslim country, can host a big event like that.” — Sheikh Tamim bin […]
world cup 2022
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gulati Joins Push for Corruption Report to be Published
U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati on Wednesday joined the growing number of FIFA executive committee members who are pressing soccer’s world governing body to make publicthe results of an investigative report into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. In an interview with the New York Times, Gulati said he planned to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA Facing Increasing Calls for Transparency
FIFA is facing more and more calls for transparency from its members with vice president Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordon becoming the latest executive committee member to call for theresults of the recent investigation into World Cup bidding corruption to be made public. “In the interest of full transparency, I believe it is important […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Nasser Al Khater
“The only question now is when, not if. Summer or winter, we will be ready.” — Qatar 2022 communications director Nasser Al Khater ina statement after German Theo Zwanziger, a member of the FIFA executive committee, said he thought the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar. (Reuters)
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Prosecutor Calls for End to FIFA's Secrecy
FIFA prosecutor Michael Garcia on Friday said he wants more details published about corruption cases in soccer and called on FIFA, the sport’s world governing body, to lift its ruleson secrecy. For example, FIFA rules require that Garcia’s recent report on possible corruption in the bidding contests for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups remain […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
European Clubs Favor Summer World Cup in 2022
The European Clubs’ Association on Tuesday contradicted FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s assertion that a summer World Cup in Qatar in 2022 was off the table, pointing out thatcooling technology for stadiums and fields was an integral part of Qatar’s successful bid to host the competition. “It would be very, very important to have strong arguments […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA Sets Meeting to Discuss Qatar 2022
FIFA has said it will step up the search for new dates to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar during talks with soccer officials next Monday. FIFA President Sepp Blatter last year insisted thetournament cannot be played in the summer desert heat and that a committee would meet to consult new dates for soccer’s […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Grondona dies after 35 years as Argentine boss
[OBITUARY] Julio Grondona, FIFA senior vice president, died on Wednesday after being admitted to a Buenos Aires hospitalfor an aortic aneurysm. The 82-year-old Don Julio, as he was known in Argentina, had been president of the Argentina soccer federation (AFA) since 1979. During his tenure, Argentina won the World Cuponce and finished runner-up twice. But […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckenbauer provisionally banned from soccer
[FIFA] Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player and coach and was the head of the 2006 German World Cuporganizing committee, was banned by FIFA for 90 days failing to cooperate in the corruption investigation into the awards for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. “The apparent breach relatesto Mr Beckenbauer’s failure […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
European Soccer Leaders Turn on Blatter
On the eve of the 2014 World Cup, several European soccer leaders have called on FIFA President Sepp Blatter to step down at the end of his current term, which expires next year. Earlierthis year, Blatter reversed a prior decision to step aside as the head of soccer’s world governing body, choosing instead to stand […]