Planning for the 2022 World Cup in Dubai appears to have gone out the window due to problems related to the country’s extreme heat. Source: Getty Images
MELBOURNE is ready and raring to help host the 2022 World Cup if Qatar loses the privilege, the city’s lord mayor and its most recognisable football fan say.
Victorian Sports Minister Damian Drum has also declared the Government would be happy to “chat” with FIFA about hosting matches in Melbourne.
The offer comes after FIFA executive committee member Theo Zwanziger told Germany’s Sport Bild Plus this week the 2022 event would not be held in Qatar because of its scorching temperatures.
The Middle Eastern country has also been forced to fend off claims of corruption since it was awarded the tournament in 2010, and has been criticised for its treatment of migrant workers.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle told the Herald Sun Melbourne was “one of the few cities with the facilities in place” to host the colossal event “at a moment’s notice”.
“We would do a World Cup brilliantly,” Cr Doyle said.
Melbourne Victory’s No.1 ticket holder, celebrity chef George Calombaris agreed Australia should have another crack at landing the tournament, saying Australians would embrace it wholeheartedly.
“Football in this country is going gangbusters,” he said.
“It’s just getting better and better. Have a look at the stats of A-League memberships — they’re all up on last year already.”
Mr Calombaris said he had been to World Cups around the globe and believed Australia could match it with former hosts.
“We can do it safely, we can do it with class. We just need to go for it and everyone needs to get behind it,” he said.
Mr Drum said the State Government would happily negotiate with FIFA if the opportunity arose.
“It’s only a personal opinion that has been expressed by the German delegate, so this is not something that is realistic at this point,” he said.
“But this state is open for big sporting events so we’d always be happy to take FIFA’s call if they wanted to chat.”
Football Federation Australia would not be drawn on whether Australia would make a second bid for the tournament if Qatar was stripped of hosting duties.
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