The 2 December deadline for deciding the Fifa World Cups in 2018 and 2022 is fast approaching. Because of this, a number of bidding nations had strong representation at the current Soccerex football seminar in Brazil.
There has been talk and speculation for quite a while about who is running ahead to win the bids on 2018 and 2022 and while there was a strong representation by many bidding nations, some like England, were not present at all or had scant representation. The talk has also slowed as 2 December looms nearer and nearer.
The strongest competition may come over the 2022 World Cup, which has Qatar, Japan, Australia, and the U.S. competing among the nations wanting the slot.
South Korea is also in this group, but is believed to have slim to no chance of being awarded the opportunity, even though it has been suggested that just such an award might go a long way toward normalizing relations with North Korea.
This is just the sort of political tone they add to try and get a leg up, says one official. He went on to say that relations between the two Korean countries are as normal as they ever get.
He is right to assume that the competing countries play every card and innuendo they can in an effort to get the World Cup to come to their country.
These Fifa events are big time, says another expert. Not only is there the exposure on the world stage and the national pride to gain, but the World Cup can be a huge boost to a sagging economy, and everyone’s economy is sagging right now.