OPINION: Stronger growth in the emerging world coincides with the period when FIFA began selecting hosts from outside the traditional football strongholds.
LONDON —The 22nd World Cup is under way, but who at the beginning of this century would have thought it might be hosted by tiny Qatar? Yet here we are, and the only surprise is that it doesn’t feel all that surprising.
Beautifully inclusive event After one, I received personal messages from senior central bankers around the world. Some told me it was the best publication we produced, which, given how frequently we published on economic events and markets, was both amusing and something to ponder. We persuaded national leaders and major football figures to guest write for us. On one occasion, Alex Ferguson, the legendary Manchester United manager, selected his all-time top world team.
But given many major countries’ inward turn in recent years, are the days of even wanting to host the event numbered? Will aspiring emerging-market countries find it increasingly difficult to succeed in staging the world’s most watched tournament? Or, to the contrary, could the world soon shift back to a more contented, globalizing, and inclusive international order?
If the global economy’s future is very different from the past 20-30 years, this will be reflected in FIFA’s decision-making. It is hard to imagine FIFA being enthusiastic about future competitions in emerging-market countries if these countries contribute less to world economic growth than the tournament hosts since 2010.
I start with history. Only eight countries have won the World Cup. Brazil, having won five times, is always one of the favorites, and this year’s squad seems to be one of the tournament’s strongest. Argentina, Uruguay, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and England are the other previous winners. Even though Italy failed to qualify this time around, the winner is likely to be one of the others.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Opinion | Is FIFA World Cup Controversy Just One More Distraction?If we could take just some of our energy and anger that we rightfully hold for the situation surrounding this World Cup and direct it instead to a system that has been exploiting workers and destroying ecosystems for thousands of years, then we could actually get somewhere.
Read more »
World Cup 2022: Teams scrap rainbow-colored armband plan after FIFA threatens 'sporting sanctions'DOHA, Qatar — Seven European teams have scrapped plans to wear rainbow-colored anti-discrimination captains' armbands at the 2022 World Cup after FIFA threatened them with 'sporting sanctions,' the teams said in a joint statement Monday.
Read more »
European World Cup Players Won't Wear 'One Love' Armbands After FIFA ThreatQatar has faced years of criticism regarding its treatment of low-paid migrant workers as well as its criminalization of gay and lesbian sex.
Read more »
FIFA Crushes Plan to Show Pro-LGBTQ Message at World CupHours before the armbands were due to be worn in defiance of the local laws, FIFA made an unprecedented threat to issue a yellow card to any captain wearing the symbol.
Read more »
England's World Cup History Before 2022 FIFA TournamentEngland enters the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar looking to capture its second title. Here is a look back at the country’s history in the tournament.
Read more »