Saturday, December 26, 2009

World Cup Selection Process

The first World Cups were decided at FIFA meetings which created much controversy due to the 3 week boat journey between South America and Europe which were the two main football regions. The first World Cup, hosted in Uruguay only contained 4 European countries due to the travelling issues. The following 2 World Cups were hosted in Europe leading to a boycott by Uruguay and Argentina as the American countries believed the World Cup would be alternated between the two continents. As a result from 1958 a rotation policy was introduced between Europe and America until the 2002 World Cup. The 2002 World Cup was historic as it was the first World Cup to be held in Asia and the first to be hosted by two nations. The 2012 World Cup, hosted by South Africa will be the first in Africa and as the 2016 World Cup is hosted in Brazil it will be the first time 2 consecutive World Cups have been hosted outside of Europe.

In recent times the host is chosen as a result by the FIFA’s Executive Committee and the process is as follows; the potential host country’ FA receives a ‘hosting agreement’ which explains the requirements and steps to making a bid. If a submission form is entered by a country’ FA a FIFA inspection team is sent to all potential host nations to see if they can fulfil the requirements, a report is made and a host chosen (usually 6 – 7 years before the tournament). 

After the 2014 World Cup the selection policy will change; abolishing the rotation policy and instead allowing any country not part of a continent that has hosted 1 of the 2 previous World Cups can be entered for host selection.