WEEKLY WHINE

Good try, Qatar

On THU 02 DEC 2010, FIFA will vote on the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 Men’s World Cup tournaments. We here at GoobNet have no changes to our recommended votes. We continue to recommend England for the 2018 Men’s World Cup and the United States for the 2022 Men’s World Cup. However, the voting may not go this way – which is to say, the members of the FIFA executive committee may vote incorrectly.

The remaining bids are England, Netherlands/​Belgium, Russia, and Spain/​Portugal for 2018 and Australia, Japan, Korea Rep, Qatar, and the United States for 2022. Here now are our predictions on how each member will vote.

Sepp BLATTER [SUI]: FIFA president. As his enthusiastic support for South Africa as a host nation demonstrates, he is a strong proponent of expanding the game into new domains. Therefore, he will vote for Russia for 2018 and Qatar for 2022.

Julio GRONDONA [ARG]: FIFA senior vice president. Will vote for Spain/​Portugal for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

CHUNG Mong Joon [KOR]: FIFA vice president. Will vote for Spain/​Portugal for 2018 and Korea Rep for 2022.

Issa HAYATOU [CMR]: FIFA vice president. Much of Africa is still thankful to Sepp Blatter for bringing the 2010 Men’s World Cup to that continent, and Hayatou is among them. Like Blatter, he will vote for Russia for 2018 and Qatar for 2022.

Michel PLATINI [FRA]: FIFA vice president. Will vote for Spain/​Portugal for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

Reynald TEMARII [TAH]: FIFA vice president. Suspended and cannot vote.

Geoff THOMPSON [ENG]: FIFA vice president. Will vote for England for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

Ángel VILLA [ESP]: FIFA vice president. Will vote for Spain/​Portugal for 2018 and Qatar for 2022.

Jack WARNER [TRI]: FIFA vice president. Although Warner suffers from a well known case of nepotism, it will not affect his vote here. He will vote for England for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

Hany ABO RIDA [EGY]: Will vote for Russia for 2018 and Qatar for 2022.

Amos ADAMU [NGA]: Suspended and cannot vote.

Jacques ANOUMA [CIV]: Will vote for Russia for 2018 and Qatar for 2022.

Franz BECKENBAUER [GER]: Will vote for England for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

Mohammed BIN HAMMAM [QAT]: Bin Hammam is likely to challenge Blatter for the FIFA presidency in next year’s election. However, the two will agree on this matter, as Bin Hammam will also vote for Russia for 2018 and Qatar for 2022.

Chuck BLAZER [USA]: Will vote for England for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

Michel D’HOOGE [BEL]: Will vote for Netherlands/​Belgium for 2018 and Australia for 2022.

Senes ERZIK [TUR]: Will vote for Russia for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

Marios LEFKARITIS [CYP]: Will vote for Russia for 2018 and Qatar for 2022.

Nicolás LEOZ [PAR]: Will vote for Spain/​Portugal for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

Worawi MAKUDI [THA]: Will vote for Russia for 2018 and Qatar for 2022.

Vitaly MUTKO [RUS]: Will vote for Russia for 2018 and Australia for 2022.

Junji OGURA [JPN]: Will vote for England for 2018 and Japan for 2022.

Rafael SALGUERO [GUA]: Will vote for Spain/​Portugal for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

Ricardo TEIXEIRA [BRA]: Will vote for Spain/​Portugal for 2018 and the United States for 2022.

Jérôme VALCKE [FRA]: FIFA general secretary. Nonvoting member of executive committee.

2018 VOTE

In the first round, Russia will receive nine votes, Spain/​Portugal seven, England five, and Netherlands/​Belgium one. Michel D’Hooge will then back England, but that will not save it from elimination. Thus, in the third round, an 11-11 deadlock will result as D’Hooge, Blazer, Thompson, and Beckenbauer will support Spain/​Portugal, whilst Ogura and Warner will support Russia. Since Blatter holds the tiebreaking vote, Russia will be awarded the 2018 Men’s World Cup.

2022 VOTE

In the first round, the United States will receive ten votes, Qatar eight, Australia two, and Japan and the Korea Rep one each. Ogura and Chung will transfer their respective votes to Qatar. Then, when Australia is eliminated in the fourth round, D’Hooge will back the United States and Mutko will back Qatar. But in a shocking about face, Lefkaritis will reason that with Russia having won the 2018 bid, a less risky choice than Qatar is in order for 2022. Therefore, he will back the United States in the fourth round, and by a 12-10 vote, the United States will be awarded the 2022 Men’s World Cup.