# Qatar should withdraw their World Cup bid **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-soccer-fifa\ **Created:** [April 12, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574 "2012-04-12T16:25:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/21 "2012-04-16T18:29:29Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > According to [this article](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2059031/World-Cup-2022-Qatar-air-conditioned-stadium.html), Qatar is backing down on their promise to build air conditioned stadiums, because such stadiums are too expansive. They’re too _big?_ [cite](http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=definition+of+expansive&oq=definition+of+expansive&aq=f&aqi=g1g-s1g1g-s1&aql=&gs_l=hp.3..0j0i10j0j0i10.253l4147l0l5014l23l17l0l6l6l0l407l2713l8j3j3j0j2l22l0.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=3226d37ade666d03&biw=1280&bih=843&safe=on) ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/22 "2012-04-16T18:55:54Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > They’re too _big?_ > > [cite](http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=definition+of+expansive&oq=definition+of+expansive&aq=f&aqi=g1g-s1g1g-s1&aql=&gs_l=hp.3..0j0i10j0j0i10.253l4147l0l5014l23l17l0l6l6l0l407l2713l8j3j3j0j2l22l0.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=3226d37ade666d03&biw=1280&bih=843&safe=on) It has been points out to me that my new keyboard on the Android autocorrects expensive to expansive. This has been fixed. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/23 "2012-04-16T20:18:39Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > It has been points But now it am rounded. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/24 "2012-04-16T20:19:47Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > But now it am rounded. God damn my Android keyboard! I’m going back to the basic built-in one. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/25 "2012-04-16T20:21:31Z")
Spare us the Qatar! ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/26 "2012-04-17T03:27:23Z")
Sell I still reckon Australia should have got it, Qatar bribed their way. We could easily handle the World Cup here, we have a large amount of stadiums from 10,000 seats t 100,000+ and we would fill them all. We did OK with the Commonwealth and Olympic games a few years ago… ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/27 "2012-04-17T08:24:36Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Sell I still reckon Australia should have got it […] We could easily handle the World Cup here, we have a large amount of stadiums from 10,000 seats t 100,000+ and we would fill them all. The thing is soccer doesn’t have the same mass appeal here as it does in Europe or Latin America - it’s a perfectly respectable local sport (like hockey) but hasn’t quite made the leap to the zeitgeist the way rugby or AFL or even tennis have. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/28 "2012-04-17T09:12:56Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > I’m sure when/if the United States ever wins the Cup, the rest of the world will let us know it isn’t a big deal anymore. So 20th century… I think it is still a big deal but it just doesn’t feel the same any more. I still watch it and still get excited but something just seems to be missing. Maybe over-commercialisation is a part as well. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/29 "2012-04-17T10:14:31Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > But now it am rounded. Were blind, but now it see. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/30 "2012-04-17T12:36:50Z")
> [@nudgenudge](#): > > Some notable players from the 1982 torunament: Rossi, Socrates, Boniek, Rummenigge, Platini. None of these players had played outside their domestic leagues (although some would, later in their careers). The only opportunities outside of the World Cup for, say, a British fan to see these players were the relatively rare occasions when an English or Scottish club played one of their teams in the European Cup or what have you. We never got to see the South American players at all. African players were basically unheard of. This [Socrates](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79vdlEcWxvM)? Yeah, he was good. > [@sisu](#): > > Sell I still reckon Australia should have got it, Qatar bribed their way. > > We could easily handle the World Cup here, we have a large amount of stadiums from 10,000 seats t 100,000+ and we would fill them all. > > We did OK with the Commonwealth and Olympic games a few years ago… These [Olympics](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_M9RlhMjt0#t=5m17s)? ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/31 "2012-04-18T00:17:21Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > This [Socrates](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79vdlEcWxvM)? Yeah, he was good. > > These [Olympics](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_M9RlhMjt0#t=5m17s)? LOL 100mt track… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/32 "2012-04-18T01:43:14Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > LOL 100mt track… I was just watching that clip. That’s still one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/33 "2012-04-22T23:01:04Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I was just watching that clip. That’s still one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen. Yep they are stuff of genius. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/34 "2013-07-18T09:12:05Z")
UPDATE: [Sepp Blatter wants to move the World Cup to winter so the players and fans don’t die in droves.](http://www.cbssports.com/general/blog/eye-on-sports/22799029/fifa-president-move-2022-world-cup-in-qatar-to-winter) > [@](#): > > “If this World Cup is to become a party for the people, you can’t play football in the summer,” Blatter said Wednesday at a conference in Austria. “You can cool down the stadiums but you can’t cool down the whole country.” > > … > > According to the AP, Blatter told a French newspaper it would not be rational to stage the first World Cup in the Middle East in the summer. No shit. Everybody, EVERYBODY, has been saying that since the day this was announced. In the meantime, Qatar continues to vacillate on their pipe-dream stadiums and [artificial clouds](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9435035.stm). We’re still nearly a decade away and this is already a disaster. It cannot possibly improve. It must have been one hell of a bribe that they’re sticking to their guns on this. Wait until the first hooligans show up, or the first public drunks end up in the pokey, or the first homosexual fans get arrested. The only thing left to wonder about is the overall death toll. Over/under starts at 30. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/35 "2013-07-18T10:21:26Z")
I hope and dream of the day that Sepp Blatter gets arrested and convicted for fraud and embezzlement. Everybody knows full well why he awarded the world cup to Qatar, that decision was made on a river of bribes and I sincerely hope he faces the consequences of his corruption at some stage. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/36 "2013-07-18T10:28:55Z")
Out of interest, how do American sports cope in the desert states, where temperatures can also climb well into three digits? Do they avoid the summer altogether? I’m not much up on the American sporting calendar. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/37 "2013-07-18T11:12:01Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Out of interest, how do American sports cope in the desert states, where temperatures can also climb well into three digits? Do they avoid the summer altogether? I’m not much up on the American sporting calendar. Domed fields/retractable roofs I think - though someone in the USA will be better placed to tell you for sure. The Arizona Diamondbacks in baseball, as the main summer sport, are perhaps instructive. There is a retractable roof on the stadium, so I’d imagine that they’ll shut it if it’s forecast to be too hot. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/38 "2013-07-18T11:21:17Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > UPDATE: [Sepp Blatter wants to move the World Cup to winter so the players and fans don’t die in droves.](http://www.cbssports.com/general/blog/eye-on-sports/22799029/fifa-president-move-2022-world-cup-in-qatar-to-winter) > > No shit. Everybody, EVERYBODY, has been saying that since the day this was announced. In the meantime, Qatar continues to vacillate on their pipe-dream stadiums and [artificial clouds](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9435035.stm). > > We’re still nearly a decade away and this is already a disaster. It cannot possibly improve. It must have been one hell of a bribe that they’re sticking to their guns on this. Wait until the first hooligans show up, or the first public drunks end up in the pokey, **or the first homosexual fans get arrested.** The only thing left to wonder about is the overall death toll. Over/under starts at 30. We’ll be used to the bit I bolded after the World Cup in Russia, sadly. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/39 "2013-07-18T11:36:35Z")
The original Houston Astrodome was the first domed/air conditioned stadium in 1965. It only had a capacity of 49,000 for baseball, and 62,000 for NFL Football. Chase Field (Arizona Diamondbacks) has a retractable roof and holds 48,600 for baseball. U of Phoenix Stadium (Arizona Cardinals of the NFL) has a max capacity of 72,000 and a retractable roof. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574/40 "2013-07-18T11:48:20Z")
> [@Cumbrian](#): > > Domed fields/retractable roofs I think - though someone in the USA will be better placed to tell you for sure. The Arizona Diamondbacks in baseball, as the main summer sport, are perhaps instructive. There is a retractable roof on the stadium, so I’d imagine that they’ll shut it if it’s forecast to be too hot. Also, that part if the American Desert has a pretty high elevation – about 3000 feet above sea level (1000 meters), if I recall – so it doesn’t average as hot as Qatar, which is AT sea level. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qatar-should-withdraw-their-world-cup-bid/618574.md?page=3)