July 30 – Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Mohamed Bin Hammam has revealed that he plans to vote for Qatar to host the World Cup in 2022.
FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee will choose who hosts the 2018 and 2022 World Cup events on December 2 in Zurich.
Underlining his desire to see the tournament return to Asia for a second time, the AFC head said his vote would go to the other three Asian nations bidding to host the 2022 event if Qatar was not in the running.
“I have one vote… And frankly speaking, I will vote for Qatar but if Qatar is not in the run, I will vote for another Asian country,” Bin Hammam said.
“I am President of Asia so it is my duty to see that World Cup will be hosted in Asia no matter which country.”
Qatar, South Korea, Japan and Australia – all members of the AFC – are bidding to host the 2022 World Cup.
The World Cup was played in Asia for the first time in 2002 when South Korea and Japan co-hosted the event.
Related stories
July 2010: David Owen – No China Crisis yet for Asian 2022 World Cup bidders
July 2010: China admits – We don’t want Asia to win 2022 World Cup bid
July 2010: Chinese bid for World Cup 2026 stirs pot for 2022 Asian candidates
June 2010: Exclusive – US World Cup bid will benefit from Asian split predicts Gulati
May 2010: Lula pledges Brazil’s support to Qatar 2022 World Cup bid