As the world takes a somewhat early glimpse into South Africa 2010 with this week’s Confederations Cup, countries around the globe are tarting up like an 18 year old freshmen girl at SMU Rush Week to be chosen as host nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Australia launched its “audacious” bid at the nation’s capital on Sunday, replete with more politicians trying to get on TV than a…well, a bunch of politicians at a World Cup launch.
Pretty much everyone agrees that England will be awarded the 2018 Cup – they are the home of the game, haven’t hosted since 1966, the EPL is the “premier” league, and Europe will have gone two World Cups without hosting by 2018.
But 2022 is a different ballgame. Russia, the US, and Australia all are considered the top countries. I don’t see how Russia could get it after England, so you have to figure that my two home countries are in the running. USA 94 saw the largest crowds in World Cup history and the largest market was wrapped in World Cup glory that glorious Summer. But, despite its’ best intentions, Major League Soccer is still a very distant fifth sport in the US and soccer still hasn’t cracked the public consciousness – and probably never will.
So, I say we support Australia’s bid. The country will need to build several new World Cup worth stadiums, the time zones suck, and the sport is still relegated behind Aussie Rules, rugby, and even cricket – but with the success of the Socceroos in 2006 and the growing popularity of the domestic A-League, soccer is on the rise. Plus, Aussies absolutely love a bandwagon to jump on and if the World Cup powers that be can take the competition to places like South Korea and South Africa – why not here?
Oh, and check out the official Australia “Come Play” video. Pretty cool except for the absolutely blatant product placement of a certain company from Oregon.
And, it kinda reminds me (a lot) of this commercial from that same company – guess there’s only so much you can do with a soccer ball.
To see more on the Australia World Cup bid – check out the official site and join me in bringing the great game Down Under – we’ll be happy to host you here in Melbourne.
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I saw K-Rudd's Facebook post on this over the weekend ... you're right, the time zones do suck. It'd suck as bad as the Japan/Korea World Cup did. Neither Europe nor the U.S. had decent watching times then.
I suppose it'd depend on the argument of tried and true vs. somewhere we've never been before if it comes down to USA vs. Australia for hosts.
I can't say which I'd prefer, though, because for all I know I'll be living in Mongolia in 2022.
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