Russia and Qatar to host 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.

Russia and Qatar will host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. The announcements of the historic events were made by FIFA President, Sepp Blatter in funfare and style. There was so much emotion and disbelief on the part of the nominated nations and their bidding teams. There was as much disappointment and sadness to the homeland of football as the heartbroken English realised the next time they will have a chance to do so will be in 2044 as the tournament will rotate the world continents.

Russia budgeted $4 billion for the stadia, of which 5 will be built from scratch. It will be new territory and history making as FIFA goes east Europe and the challenge is attractive enough for football as end of the monotony of the game will be the legacy of the FIFA President who promised radicalism cup on being elected, and he is not disappointing.

Qatar have crazy petro dollars and will be building the state of the art stadia with insane climate control technology for the extreme desert weather. The first Middle East and Muslim nation to host the FIFA World Cup, complete some crazy moments of the game ever. Just this year, Africa showed the world an incredible spectacle when South Africa hosted the first ever 2010 FIFA World Cup. It was an event that was met with scepticism from nay sayers, but then went on to break so many records and introduced the world to a different class of celebration.

The Russia and Qatar bids may not have been easy choices by any means, given that the historical custodians of the game, England had proved they will have 100% returns all round in financial terms. They had hosted the FIFA World Cup before in 1966. They had David Beckam, the football's most recognised and influential figure of all time. They had Prince William, heir to the Throne and charismatic Prime Minister, David Cameron in their powerful bidding team.

The way South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup was surely a catalyst in winning the bids for smaller nations. It was almost like, if Africa can do it, surely, why not Russia or Qatar. In all fairness, central Europe hosted the 2006 version in Germany. Given also the fact that the USA hosted the 1994, breaking new ground and crossing political and religious barriers, Qatar was a balanced option. Qatar also fell in love with the vuvuzela and I can promise a better version of the instrument or even better. That is the beauty of taking the game to other areas and traditions.

Frankly, the Qatari delegation will have sleepless nights pinching themselves. They surely thought they were making numbers. Nonetheless, they did a great job and believed in themselves. It was a bid they built from the bottom with nothing. In comparison,the English almost wanted to hold FIFA at ransom as the owners of the game. It was a valid point though, they somehow needed to host this tournament for once, but then, they seem to want to host it to win it.

I will not take anything away from the deserved winners of both Russia and Qatar. Congratulations.