The FIFA World Cup is much deeper than football. It’s an international phenomenon that affects economies, politics, and even national pride. The tournament’s host nation is selected through a bidding process that can last for years, costing billions of dollars, and countries go to extraordinary lengths to try to secure the rights. But what does it truly take to win? What is the reality of these rampant bidding wars? Let us explore further.
Why Hosting the FIFA World Cup Matters
It is very clear that hosting a World Cup comes with great economic effects. Nations pour funds into building new hotels, airports, and stadiums in hopes of receiving a greater financial return. For instance, Brazil spent over $15 billion on the 2014 World Cup and managed to make $3 billion in tourism. Russia’s 2018 World Cup brought over $14 billion in economic impact, with 3 million people attending during the competition.
Hosting the World Cup improves a nation’s global image. South Africa’s 2010 World Cup increased international investment in the country by over 9% in a year. Qatar hosted the first-ever Middle Eastern World Cup in 2022, and with it came an influx of more than 1.5 million fans to check out the country’s infrastructure and its global influence. Although many still prefer to place bets without leaving home, we advise you to check betting odds to get the maximum benefit. And even despite this, those fans who do not attend the World Cup will still learn a lot about the country in which it is held and perhaps visit it in the future.
How FIFA Chooses Host Nations
FIFA takes time to carefully analyze a country’s economy, reputation, and public infrastructure before making a decision. Let’s look at how the process works:
- Infrastructure Requirements: A country needs modern airports, transportation networks, and an estimated 8–12 FIFA-approved stadiums. The U.S. (2026) and Germany (2006) won bids because of their robust sports infrastructure.
- Financial Commitment: Event expenses are guaranteed to set a country back billions of dollars. Russia set aside over $11 billion for 2018, whereas Qatar’s final bill for the World Cup nearly reached $220 billion.
- Government and Political Stability: FIFA’s focus remains on a politically stable nation, which is why they did not allow Indonesia to bid in 2022 because of broader sporting government issues.
- Football Legacy and Growth Potential: Nations must showcase an existing football legacy or strong improvement potential. The United States won the bid in 1994 because they proved they could grow soccer in North America, which allowed MLS to be formed.
FIFA officials extensively study every bid, but they first need to visit the country and conduct impact studies before voting on the final host. And these are just the basic factors. In fact, there are many more. By subscribing to MelBet, you will be the first to know the country where the next World Cup will be held! There is everything from news to funny memes, so subscribe and get even closer to the world of sports!
The True Cost of Hosting
The costs of hosting the World Cup are usually more expensive than anticipated. South Africa expected to spend around $3.6 billion for the 2010 World Cup, but they ended up spending close to $6 billion. Also, public protests erupted in Brazil after it, and its economy seemingly spent $15 billion without meeting any societal benefits.
The most expensive part of hosting the World Cup is the construction of the stadiums. Qatar spent over $10 billion building seven new stadiums for the 2022 World Cup. In Russia, the renovation of Luzhniki Stadium cost over $400 million. Many nations are left with unused structures after the World Cup, which is referred to as “white elephants.” An instance of this is Brazil, whose Arena da Amazônia cost $300 million and is barely used now.
Politics and Power in World Cup Bidding
The bidding process is not only concerned with football, but it also involves politics. Countries make use of their World Cup bids to improve relations with other countries and increase their power. As an example, President Vladimir Putin of Russia put significant support behind his country’s bid for the 2018 World Cup, using his diplomatic contacts to win votes.
There has also been some degree of collusion. A FIFA scandal uncovered several bribes for votes in favor of different nations in the 2015 World Cup. The win for Qatar in 2022 raised some questions because there were reports showing millions of dollars were paid to FIFA affiliates before the vote was cast. Even with steps being taken to improve FIFA’s structure, World Cup hosting is still heavily politicized.
Infrastructure and Human Rights Issues
To host a World Cup, countries need to create new worlds of infrastructure, but these projects often come with their own set of controversies. Here are some notable difficulties:
- Labor Conditions: Qatar has been in the news for the mistreatment of migrant workers, who were allegedly made to work under dangerous conditions while the stadiums were being built.
- Evictions and Displacement: Brazil evicted over 250,000 people for World Cup-related projects in Rio de Janeiro.
- Environmental Concerns: Environmental groups opposed Russia’s stadium construction as it destroyed parts of protected forests.
- Security Challenges: France in 1998 and Germany in 2006 had to spend more because of increased policing needed to ensure there was sufficient control over the crowds as well as security from terrorist activities.
FIFA, however, is still intent on improving the standard of human rights protections in the selection of hosts.
A New Era of World Cup Bidding: What Comes Next?
The FIFA World Cup keeps changing for the better, with the upcoming one in 2026 featuring an unprecedented 48 teams, which will greatly increase the required infrastructure and investment. Future bids might consider joint hosting, as demonstrated by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico’s hosting plan for 2026. While technology, politics, and finances continue to change, fighting for the World Cup might remain one of the most competitive and controversial struggles in the world of sports.
