Reports of the arrest of former UEFA president, Michel Platini been detained for questioning by French police over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar early this week rented the air with many questioning the implications it could bring with it.
The prosecutor’s office did not squash the report of the 63-year-old Platini being detained. Apparently, he has never denied voting for Qatar but has always denied any claims of having done anything wrong even after being detained in Paris suburbs.
His lawyers have since refused to talk to journalists but the matter will be put to the public limelight in a matter of time.
Investigations on the December 2010 decision to have the football’s biggest tournament in the small but wealthy Gulf state since 2016haave been ongoing since the mentioning of corruption in the matter for the better part since the knowledge of the same was realized.
The Gulf country which is having its level of football standards growing fast beat bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States in a vote by the executive committee of world football’s governing body FIFA, but more than half of that 22-man panel has now been accused of receiving bribes to give the country hosting rights at a time when the French was the FIFA President.
One of the questions that we should be asking ourselves should Qatar lose hosting rights for the World Cup, is who should come in to fill the gap, as pundits and football fans on social media keep on pressing for the nation to be stripped, Let’s look at some of the five countries that could chip in to replace the oil-rich Gulf country.
USA
The United States of America, USA was one of the countries that were fighting to host the competitions. The nation last hosted the 1994 World Cup and advanced to the round of 16 stages before being knocked out by the then eventual winners Brazil.
During this time, the knowledge of soccer was still far behind in terms of knowledge of the game and the stadiums were still in wanting situation at the time when the USA was given the chance to host the tournament.
As it stands today, the MLS is growing in popularity with more franchises entering the competition and with superstars such as David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic promoting the league, a second World Cup could propel football in the States to another level.
The United States of America boasts of some of the best stadiums including, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Michigan Stadium, Beaver Stadium.
England
One of the best footballing arena in Europe and the world at large, England has not hosted the World Cup since 1966, when they won the tournament. It was the year Bobby Moore’s team defeated West Germany 4-2 in the World Cup final on 30 July, after a nail-biting and controversial match. The land of the queen boasts with some of the best stadiums and the perfect accessibility to host such a spectacle.
England has also some of the best young players with others from all over the world gathering here in the EPL which has helped the growth of the levels of football in the country, differently, under manager Gareth Southgate the mantra has changed.
The country boast of some of the best stadiums in the world thanks to the clubs that have been running in their own stadiums but some of those which could host the tournaments are Wembley Stadium, Manchester United’s, Old Trafford, and the recently built Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Argentina
Since the inception of the Argentina national team has appeared in five FIFA World Cup finals, including the first final in 1930, 1978 when the team won it’s first World Cup beating the Netherlands 1986 winning its second World Cup after defeating West Germany, 1990 and 2014.
Surprisingly, Argentina has not hosted a World Cup since they won it in 1978, led by the much forgotten-about Mario Kempes while still the passion for football in Argentina can be seen whenever great rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate cross paths.
The fever hitting a football-mad country such as Argentina could produce a great sporting spectacle if the country is given a chance to host the worldwide spectrum.
Some of the stadiums that could host the matches are, Monumental Antonio V. Liberti, Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.
Spain
Spain which produces some of the best and renown footballers last hosted a World Cup tournament in 1982 and reached the second round. Since then Spain went on to dominate the international stage from 2008 to 2012. They won three tournaments in a row but endured a tough time last year, suffering a last-16 exit against hosts Russia.
Boasting of some of the best football clubs in the world, Spain could stage one of the best and memorable world cup with stadiums such as Barcelona’s Camp Nou, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, and Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano where the final of the recent UEFA Champions League was played.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands holds the record for playing the most World Cup finals without ever winning the tournament, finishing second in 1974, 1978 and 2010 World Cups, losing to West Germany, Argentina and Spain respectively.
The Netherlands, Dutch or Holland as many know the nation as has never hosted a World Cup but boas of some of the best players in the game including Johan Cruyff to Marco Van Basten.
After a couple of years in the cold and missing out on big trophies like Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, the Dutch seem to have found their nerve again under former Everton manager Ronald Koeman who is steering the national team.
Apparently, the country is enjoying the growth and establishment of young players such as Matthijs De Ligt and Frenkie de Jong will still be around come to the 2022 World Cup and the chance to lead the Dutch to a first World Cup victory on home soil could be a crowning moment for a nation steeped in footballing history.
Some of the stadiums that could stage the matches if they are granted the hosting rights are Johan Cruyff Arena which is home to Ajax, De Kuip, Philips Stadion.