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United States of America
Fifa World Ranking:
18
Main Stadium:
Rose Bowl, 91,000,
(Pasadena)
Last World Cup hosted:
1994
Chance of winning:
Probably aEuropean
bid will win 2018 but good chance for
2022
USA 94 was hailed as a huge success
with average attendances of nearly
69,000 even though high temperatures
during games and awkward kick-off times
for European television audiences were
definite minus points.
Massive television and marketing
opportunities mean it will be a strong
contender this time around as well and
the impact of David Beckham’s time in
Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy
should not be underestimated in terms of
boosting the profile of the sport.
The US says it has 25-35 stadiums that
would be capable of hosting matches.
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California,
which hosted Brazil’s victory over Italy in
the 1994 final, has not been refurbished
but holds 91,000.
However, the US is still waiting for “soccer”
to truly capture the nation’s imagination
and having hosted the tournament within
the last twenty years may mean that
there are more likely winners for the 2018
tournament.
Portugal and Spain
Fifa World Ranking:
Portugal
- 8,
Spain
- 1
Main Stadium:
Portugal
- Estadio da
Luz, 62,000 (Benfica) //
Spain
- Santiago
Bernabeu, 80,000 approx (Madrid)
Last World Cup hosted:
Spain
- 1982
Chance of Winning:
Low for both
tournaments because a joint bid.
The issue of joint bids is a big sticking
point for Fifa.
Still, Portugal and Spain would be strong
contenders if joint bids are considered.
Both countries have the stadia and
infrastructure to host the tournament.
Spain hosted the World Cup in 1982 and
the European Championship in 1964,
while Portugal hosted the 2004 European
Championship.
Spain’s biggest stadiums are Barcelona’s
Nou Camp (98,772) and Real Madrid’s
Santiago Bernabeu (80,354), and seven
other football grounds throughout the
country exceed a 40,000 capacity.
Portugal built seven modern stadiums
from scratch and renovated three others
for Euro 2004 as well as upgrading the
country’s transport infrastructure.
Benfica’s Estadio da Luz is the country’s
biggest venue, with a 62,000 capacity
for international games, while Sporting
Lisbon’s Estádio José Alvalade and FC
Porto’s Estadio do Dragao each hold
52,000.
Russia
Fifa World Ranking:
16
Main Stadium:
Luzhniki Stadium, 78,000
approx (Moscow)
Last World Cup hosted:
n/a
Chance of winning:
First time bidder and
good stadia mean very good chance for
2018, but if England win 2018 no chance
for 2022.
Russia is the major contender to England,
but there are vast distances between
stadia - there are nine time zones – so
travel and infrastructure issues could
count against it.
It can offer plenty of top-class venues with
Moscow alone containing eight stadiums,
the biggest of which is the Luzhniki
Stadium, which holds 78,360.
Should England triumph in 2018, then
Russia would be immediately ruled out of
the running for 2022, given Europe would
not be allowed to stage the tournament
twice in a row.
Russia was visited recently by the
international governing body’s inspection
team, led by the president of the Chilean
football federation, Harold Mayne-
Nicholls. Following the visit Fifa warned
Russia that they must begin building their
stadiums and infrastructure immediately
if they are to host the finals in 2018 or
2022.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
told Fifa during its inspection that his
country will waive visa requirements for
participants if it wins hosting rights, an
idea the delegation warmly received.
A strong bid which could win through for
2018.
touchline
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