Dutch plan 2018 World Cup bid with Belgium

[JJ Mindset]

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldFootballNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20060210:MTFH90063_2006-02-10_18-26-31_L10558598:1

[dor02]

I think Australia has a better chance of hosting it. Some of the stadiums in Australia have a greater capacity and Australia has had experiance in hostng big sports events like the Olympics and World Cups in other sports.

[Bertje]

No chance whatsoever we are going to get this one.

[afgrijselijkheid]

No chance whatsoever we are going to get this one.
probably not, but i love the attempt

[AFCA]

I think Australia has a better chance of hosting it. Some of the stadiums in Australia have a greater capacity and Australia has had experiance in hostng big sports events like the Olympics and World Cups in other sports.

There are 'plans' (ideas would be a better term) to expand feijenoord stadium to 70.000+

Seriously, with one real big stadium, two smaller ones in the 50.000 range and a bunch of stadiums 30.000-40.000... you'd have enough capacity. It just takes some organizing.

[Gold is the Colour]

No offence to Dutch or Belgians but neither country is really big enough on their own, and PLEASE NO MORE JOINT BIDS!

WRT Australia, I think even John Oniell knows it will be too early in '18, but is using it as putting feelers out for '22 - that is when I can see Australia getting it - Europe in 18 and we'd be close to favourites for '22

[AFCA]

No offence to Dutch or Belgians but neither country is really big enough on their own, and PLEASE NO MORE JOINT BIDS!

WRT Australia, I think even John Oniell knows it will be too early in '18, but is using it as putting feelers out for '22 - that is when I can see Australia getting it - Europe in 18 and we'd be close to favourites for '22

What's wrong with a joint bid?

[Gold is the Colour]

What's wrong with a joint bid?

Firstly it takes out 2 genuine qualifiers instead of 1 - Holland may be considerred shoe ins to qualify anyway - but it didn't happen in 02 did it, Belgium would be lucky to qualify now on merit.

Secondly the organisational problems. A joint bid means that the hosts stay on there own side of the draw all the way to the final (as in Japorea this means that you can't have two teams on the same side of the draw in the final ie Turkey and Brazil, therefor less chance of "best" teams meeting there)

[AFCA]

Firstly it takes out 2 genuine qualifiers instead of 1 - Holland may be considerred shoe ins to qualify anyway - but it didn't happen in 02 did it, Belgium would be lucky to qualify now on merit.

Can't say I have much of a problem with that. Besides, hosts usually put up a good fight.

BTW, no need to get all cocky just because Australia managed to qualify this time round ;)

Secondly the organisational problems. A joint bid means that the hosts stay on there own side of the draw all the way to the final (as in Japorea this means that you can't have two teams on the same side of the draw in the final ie Turkey and Brazil, therefor less chance of "best" teams meeting there)

Errrr... it's probably just me, but this should be easily changed. Especially when it concerns NL and Belgium where distances are very, very short. I doubt any of the two FA's would mind that much.

[mrtandy]

I can't see many problems with a joint bid from Belgium and the Netherlands as long as they have the Stadiums in place. Unlike Japan/Korea the Countries share a Border and Currency, also neither Country is all that large, so there is no reason why Teams would have to play all there group games in the same Country. Brussels to Amsterdam is only around 110 miles which is about the same as Dortmund to Hanover.

[feyenoordsoccerfan]

Firstly it takes out 2 genuine qualifiers instead of 1 - Holland may be considerred shoe ins to qualify anyway - but it didn't happen in 02 did it, Belgium would be lucky to qualify now on merit.

Secondly the organisational problems. A joint bid means that the hosts stay on there own side of the draw all the way to the final (as in Japorea this means that you can't have two teams on the same side of the draw in the final ie Turkey and Brazil, therefor less chance of "best" teams meeting there)

It was the FIFA itself that started the speculation a year ago ( or was it two years ago). Both the Dutch and the Belgians have been dodging the issue for a long time, but last year during the youth world championship it was brought up again by the FIFA itself and the Dutch were in favour with the idea, the Belgians were more cautious. The FIFA had also in mind the succesful tournement of Euro 2000. To add to it the FIFA and UEFA have a soft spot for the Dutch soccerworld, as is true for all the current executives and the incoming ones like Platini.

[johan derksen]

Yep, I wonder why that old story is popping up everywhere again.

Co-hosts in 2018?
Sun, Jun 6, 2004
sportinglife.com

The Netherlands and Belgium are considering a joint bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.

Alain Courtois, in charge of the Belgian side of the successful hosting of Euro 2000 by the two nations, claims that the Low Countries could cope with the 32-country tournament.

With South Africa awarded the 2010 World Cup and Brazil likely to get the 2014 tournament it would be Europe's turn to stage the event in 2018.

"It's a credible idea," Courtois said. "First because we have the experience of the European Championships in 2000 and second because we have all the necessary roads, communication systems, etc.

"Now the technical side of it all will be prepared and in November we will introduce a plan to both associations. The Belgian Football Association is enthusiastic."


After that story the Belgian football association already said they weren't interested.

[leg_breaker]

It wouldn't mess up the draw like in 2002, but I don't like the idea of Belgium getting automatic qualification AND seeding.

Even put together, I don't think Belgium and Holland have that big a selection of stadia.

[holgers_heroes]

Sounds like a fine idea to me. The combined population of Benelux (minus the lux) is larger than Australia, so if anyone argues Australia can host the games, I don't see why Belgium/Netherlands can't. A joint Bel/Neth bid could actually seem like a Europe-wide bid, and I'd bet many smaller European nations would be happy one of their own would host the World Cup rather than just going to one of the Big 5 in again (England, Germany, France, Italy, Spain).

The two countries share a border, have no border issues and are best friends, unlike the Koreans and Japanese who had two organizing committees and kept trying to out-do the other.

As for the seedings argument, based on football merit alone I'd rather have the Netherlands being seeded than Mexico. And Belgium would be seeded because they're a host, it's no different than giving the USA, Korea, Japan or South Africa a seed as host. So I don't see a problem. I'd prefer a Belgium/Netherlands World Cup over another repeat host.

I'm not crazy about joint bids, but there are times when it's fully warranted. A Belgium/Netherlands bid I'd wholeheartedly welcome, a Korea/Japan I wouldn't. Not just because the two countries don't get along, but also because Korea and Japan are capable of hosting a games on their own. An Austria/Switzerland bid I also wouldn't welcome because their combined population would still be too small to host a magnitude of the World Cup.

[seiya]

Think Europes turn should be on the 2022... wow just thinking of it i might be dead by then :(

At any case i hope RUssia wins id go to it for sure, visit my motherland + the WC, 2 in 1 ;)

[unclesox]

Firstly it takes out 2 genuine qualifiers instead of 1 - Holland may be considerred shoe ins to qualify anyway - but it didn't happen in 02 did it, Belgium would be lucky to qualify now on merit.
I'm with you about not wanting anymore joint bids because it takes away a "genuine" spot.
But the argument about how good or bad Belgium are in 2006 means absolutely nothing if were talking about 2018, as they may well be a decent enough side in twelve years' time. They weren't a bad side twelve years ago and many more before that. ;)

Secondly the organisational problems. A joint bid means that the hosts stay on there own side of the draw all the way to the final (as in Japorea this means that you can't have two teams on the same side of the draw in the final ie Turkey and Brazil, therefor less chance of "best" teams meeting there)
Totally agree. The scheduling has to be designed so that any one team can meet any of the other 31 in the final. And as long as there are joint World Cup bids, I can't see the host countries wanting to play outside their home turf unless it's the final, even if the co-host is a bordering nation.

[suppitty]

Feyenoord and Ajax are over 45k I think. PSV is around 30,000 and Vitesse is close to that. I don't think there are any stadiums in in Belgium over 30,000. I think a bid from them would be very realistic for a future Euro Cup, but the World Cup is too ambitous.

[Excape Goat]

I thought FIFA did away with joint host.

[Andy TAUS]

I thought FIFA did away with joint host.Yes the FIFA Executive Committee did, but they will have to stick to their own principles & determinations.

See: http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,101463,00.html

Unanimous confirmation from FIFA executive - no World Cup co-hosting

Zurich, 14 May 2004 - At a meeting held today, Friday, 14 May 2004, ahead of the presentations of the five associations bidding to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the FIFA Executive Committee unanimously confirmed that two or more countries would not be allowed to co-host the FIFA World Cup™.

In reaching its decision, the executive took into account the provisions in the FIFA Statutes, as well as the List of Requirements sent to all five bidders, which clearly stipulate that only one country will host the FIFA World Cup™ final competition.

In a letter dated 30 April 2004, the Tunisian football association stated that it would refrain from presenting its bid to the Executive Committee on 14 May if FIFA rejected the possibility of a co-hosting arrangement.

Furthermore, in another letter dated 13 May, the Libyan Football Federation also urged FIFA to explore the possibility of the FIFA World Cup™ finals being hosted by more than one country.

The FIFA Executive Committee today unanimously rejected both requests.

Further information from:
FIFA Media Department
media@fifa.org

[dor02]

WRT Australia, I think even John Oniell knows it will be too early in '18, but is using it as putting feelers out for '22 - that is when I can see Australia getting it - Europe in 18 and we'd be close to favourites for '22John O'Neill thinks that 2014 would be unrealistic because Brazil is a favourite to host it. 2018 is the best bet for Australia.