With no one appearing to be overly thrilled with the contestants currently scrapping for the honour of hosting the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has only itself to blame.
The scandalous 2018/ 2022 vote may have been eight years ago but the scars have not healed.
For a start, FIFA politics have trumped common sense. Putting together the vast bid book demands more time than the mere six months Morocco and the United (USA/Mexico/ Canada) bids were given.
Then FIFA came up with an evaluation taskforce comprising five of Infantino’s own appointees: joint deputy secretary-generals Marco Villiger and Zvonimir Boban, audit chair Tomaz Vesel, governance chair Mukul Mudgal and competitions committee delegate Ilco Gjorgioski. Their modus operandi and powers were even the subject of a rare bust-up in FIFA Council.
Late in April this taskforce was scheduled to visit the bidders, assess everything they found, and then award marks on a scale of nought to five across a range of nine infrastructural and revenue-related criteria. This is the part which scared the Moroccans, whose venue plans are still largely architects’ projections.
How does one assess stadia which do not exist? If the riposte is that this did Qatar no harm, well...that was then and this is now.
This story is from the May 2018 edition of World Soccer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2018 edition of World Soccer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Never Say Never Again
Bayer Leverkusen are determined to shake off their tag of perennial runners-up
The Last Days Of Roma
How Jose Mourinho's time in the Italian capital came to an end
Opponents then friends: Beckenbauer and Cruyff
Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff’s relationship defined an era of football
THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN
RB Leipzig's as successful strategy to build a women's team as their men's is right on schedule
New-look Ulsan ready to defend title
The reigning K-League champions have rebranded since last season and are the team to beat yet again in 2024
Messi set for MLS spotlight
The Argentine and his Inter Miami team-mates will dominate the MLS headlines in a big year for North American football
Champions League knockout rounds begin
The last 16 has already begun, with the quarter-finals soon to follow
Hannes Halldorsson
The former Iceland goalkeeper looks back on his proudest moment in football
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2023-24 KNOCKOUT ROUND PREVIEW
Turn over now for Nick Bidwell's comprehensive team-by-team guide
Ventforet Kofu
Japanese second-tier side advance to Asian Champions League knockout rounds with a second-string team