2018/2022 World Cup venues

[sahyder1]

The locations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be announced in just a couple of hours. Anyone care to handicap the field? It is on ESPN3 in the US (although I'm sure ESPN will also do a live look-in during Sportscenter when the announcement is being made).

[Baddar]

As much as England having 2018 would be fun, seeing Portugal/Spain get it wouldn't bother me - they have some niiiice statiums too.

As far as 2022 goes, I hope to god USA gets it.

[stokeriño]

Discussion for this is sort of ongoing in The England Thread, for any of the following reasons...

a) England are making a bid and we're horrifyingly parochial

b) Laziness

c) Something like that

Not that it matters. Nothing's going to happen for the next couple of hours anyway so this can be the wild speculation/results thread.

I predict Russia and Australia, by the way.

[EddieG]

Shame La Rosaleda got cut, but understandable, would love to see a new stadium in Malaga though, although this one recently got redone.

Of course the patriot in me wants Holland to get it.

Holland getting it would also mean a new 80k stadium for Feyenoord.

[stokeriño]

Really I just want to hear "This hotly-anticipated World Cup match is minutes away from kick-off...and we're here broadcasting LIVE FROM MILTON KEYNES."

That would leave me giggling for weeks.

[Pesci]

I also predict Russia and Australia.

But I want it to be England so, so much. I just can't imagine what the atmosphere would be like. Please god

[Lineker]

England/Qatar.

Also, lol Putin. HE's going to fly to Zurich only if Russia win. What a pathetically small man.

*awaits hit*

[Lineker]

A true tribute to Fifa's fearless transparency that they're not planning to release a breakdown of the votes from each round. Typical.

BBC sports news correspondent James Pearce on Twitter: "If Fifa stick to their word and keep the numbers for each round of voting secret then this process will be less transparent than ever. In the past Fifa have released the voting numbers for each round."

[Hobo]

England hosting a World Cup would make the eventual failure to win even more wonderful.

[sahyder1]

For the people following this in the US,

Watch live at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Fox Soccer Channel, FOX Deportes, CNN International, Univision, and fifa.com.

[Lineker]

The announcement is now taking place ten minutes later, at 1510GMT.

The nerves are killing me. Sir Keith Mills thinks that we may have just done it. Everything crossed...

[Mongrel]

I could handle losing to the US, but fuck Qatar right off. Would be an absolute joke.

[GoN_]

Hosting the world cup, even being as just the smaller co-host with Spain, would be amazing. Hope we get it.

For 2022 would like Qatar to win just for the sake of not having games being played at like 6 AM or something crazy like that.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

England and Australia would please me greatly.

I wouldn't be surprised if politicking led to Russia and Qatar for "building a legacy". As all English football fans I hate Sepp Blatter and his need for a "legacy".

Still, I hear Cameron, Beckham and Prince William went down well though.

[hugobomb]

I swear, if that fucking pitch invasion last night costs us the WC, I'm want those bastards banned fron SA fir life (even if we win I want that, but I'd want it more if it cost us).

[gunnar hendershow]

I like the US' chances of the World Cup in 2022 for reasons I've said before. The stadiums are the biggest (1994 had the highest attendance of any Cup), the country is more than capable of hosting Olympics and World Cups, and I just can't see a lot of the voters figuring it's a great idea to have Qatar go through building a ton of stadia in this economic climate. That said, whoever does get 2018 and 2022 will be deserving. I would hope England in 2018 but I just have a hunch that Iberia is getting it, and barely.

[Lineker]

The best legacy he could leave is to fuck off into retirement already. Unless his deciding vote gives us 2018. In which case, he is wonderful

Cameron has left Zurich already, apparently.

[therockbox]

Another delay?

FFS.

[Lineker]

Now channel-hopping between BBC 2 and Sky Sports News. Fuck commercials.

Unconfirmed reports suggest 2018 decision has gone to third and final round of voting. Verdict will almost certainly be delayed

[Mongrel]

So how much is Sasha Denisov going for on Football Manager?