Exclusive: World Cup bidders will fall away warns FIFA executive

By Andrew Warshaw in Cape Town

December 6 - Some of the 10 candidates vying for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup will almost certainly be forced to withdraw before the vote is taken just over a year from now, a senior FIFA administrator has predicted.

Belgium’s Michel D’Hooghe, one of the world’s most respected footballing figures, believes some bidders may have no choice but to drop out once the heavyweight technical reports are handed into FIFA next May.

“These will be critical in terms of transport, accommodation, infrastructure etc,” said D’Hooghe.

“I don’t know how many will be left in the running but what I do know that if is, say, FIFA are only happy with seven, the other countries should politely withdraw.

“Why?

“Because at that point they will have no chance.

“Of course we have to each defend our own candidature.

“I will vote for Holland and Belgium.

“But we have to work together to make sure there is a European winner.”

D’Hooghe is also concerned that, without any firm guidance from FIFA as to the rotation process for 2018 and 2022, the coveted European vote could end up being split unless a deal can be done with the non-European candidates to go only for 2022.

“The World Cup must come to Europe in 2018 but if the continent is divided that could be too great a risk with someone else winning,” said D’Hooghe.

“It’s very dangerous.”

But he re-iterated that Holland and Belgium would not be forced to withdraw early just because they are the underdogs as distinct from having an inferior bid.

“There are only maybe five or six countries in the world that can stage the World Cup on their own.

“I have always argued that if Holland and Belgium are successful it opens the door for other small nations to do it together.

“You should not take advantage just because you are a big country.”

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