On the Eve of the new Season...

[Frank Gallagher]

I finally get to fulfill my dream and stone a woman.

Thank you FIFA.

Maybe they can hang those who finish bottom of each qualifying group just to make it interesting.

[Frank Gallagher]

I could maybe maybe see Russia

They're doing the pod system for Russia to limit travel.

If St. Petersburg draws a quality group or some place down by the Black Sea it will be awesome. 

Russia has a few things over Qatar and I'll start with Vagina.  Lots of it.

Georgous vagina too. (for the most part)

[hutch]

according to the voting engladn and australia never had a chance getting 2 and  1 vote respectively


the US lost to Qatar in the fourth round of voting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9250612.stm

[Frank Gallagher]

2026 - Djibouti!

Remember where you heard it first!

[sweetcell]

2026 - Djibouti!

Remember where you heard it first!

going for the long-shot, eh? 

bookies are currently giving 3-1 odds on front-runnuer north korea...

[godsshoeshine]

north korea is a nonstarter. they wont go two asian countries in a row, thus angering the chinese too

i'm thinking nigeria or venezuela

[vansmack]

I'll take the combined Iceland/Greenland bid to just nudge out American Somoa/Fiji, which loses because the International Dateline would confuse the hell out of everybody.

[sweetcell]

American Somoa/Fiji, which loses because the International Dateline would confuse the hell out of everybody.

not to mention that by 2026, a large portion of those countries will be underwater...

[Frank Gallagher]

The problem facing the Greenland/Iceland bid is Iceland is broke so could not line FIFA's pockets enough to win the bid.

North Korea could be a dark horse though. If there still is a North Korea by then of course...could be just a big ol parking lot soon enough if they don't mind their manners.

[sweetcell]

iran'26 ftw!

[lagas]

interesting article on why the US bid failed
http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/5872089/us-world-cup-bid-swings-misses

"The tiny oil-fueled state's beautiful proposition was reflected in a presentation that blew the U.S.'s out of the water aesthetically and emotionally. "When?" one of the stunning videos asked. When would the Arabs finally get the tournament of tournaments?"

[vansmack]

United's match tomorrow was cancelled because Smackie will be travelling and won't be able to watch the match.  Or Blackpool doesn't have a heated pitch.

[godsshoeshine]

"When?" one of the stunning videos asked. When would the Arabs finally get the tournament of tournaments?"

when the world economy goes down and the bribes go up, apparently

[sweetcell]

nice work there, limeys...

England 2018 bid accused of arrogance
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=848525&sec=global&cc=5901

[hutch]

nice work there, limeys...

England 2018 bid accused of arrogance
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=848525&sec=global&cc=5901

This is just FIFA coverin their ass.... arrogance? Was it arrogant when Blair swayed the olympic vote with his last minute visit? or LUla?

It had become standard part of the process for leaders to visit to demonstrate the nation's full commitment etc


We haven't heard the last about these bids.. a WSJ article alleges  a 78 million payment from Qatar to the Argentine Socccer Federation (second most important person in FIFA is Julio Grondona the head of the Argentine Soccer Federation ..known as "Don Corleone")