Like no other event, the FIFA World Cup™ has the power to enthral huge numbers of followers all over the globe and stir passionate emotions, but especially to unite people.
Hosting the tournament is a major honour for any country, and nations from every corner of the globe vie with each other every four years for the right to stage the most prestigious single-sport event all. Images from the 2006 finals in Germany, ranging from the colourful fan festivals to jubilant winners Italy, are still fresh in the memory for a multitude of fans. This summer’s 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa will be the tournament’s first visit to Africa, underlining the event’s political and cultural significance.
Once the dust has settled on the 32-team contest from 11 June to 11 July this year, the next edition of the tournament takes place in South America in 2014, where 1950 host nation Brazil will stage the event for the second time. Back in October 2007, the nation which has lifted the prestigious trophy a record five times won the hosting rights uncontested as the sole remaining candidates, but the race to stage the 2018 and/or 2022 FIFA World Cup finals promises to be a thriller from start to finish.
No fewer than nine bids have officially been lodged: Belgium and the Netherlands, England, Japan, Russia, Spain and Portugal, and the USA have submitted bids to host the 2018 and/or 2022 FIFA World Cup. Australia, Japan, Korea Republic and Qatar have restricted their bids to hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
African Football Confederation (CAF) member associations were excluded from bidding to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, because South Africa is hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup. South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) member associations were excluded from bidding to host the 2018 and/or 2022 FIFA World Cup, because Brazil is hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The bidding contest began with the publication of the official tender document in January 2009. Associations intending to bid were required to declare their interest in hosting the 2018 and/or 2022 FIFA World Cup by 2 February 2009. The associations have submitted their bid dossier, a signed event-staging contract submit and all other relevant documentation on 14 May 2010 in Zürich. The documents will be subject to exhaustive scrutiny, and a FIFA delegation will conduct an inspection tour of each candidate nation.
The eyes of the footballing world will then turn to Home of FIFA in Zurich on 2 December 2010, when FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter will announce the host nations of the 2018 and 2022 finals as decided by the FIFA Executive Committee.