In the light of recent events in Brazil, we are once again left to ponder whether or not the 2014 World Cup will take place in Brazil.
The recent accident in San Paulo, where a crane collapsed onto a stand of the new stadium under construction, killing two people, highlighted the doubts over safety and if the infrastructure will be ready in time to meet the strict FIFA end of year deadline. This stadium is due to host the opening ceremony of the 2014 World Cup.
This is the third fatal accident in World Cup stadiums in Brazil over the past two years, with two construction workers being killed and others injured. In addition to this, six of Brazil’s World Cup stadiums are not ready for the World Cup next summer.
There is also the turmoil of the recent protests by fans across the country, unhappy with the money being spent to host the tournament.
This poses the question, should alternate arrangements be made to host the 2014 World Cup elsewhere?
Of course, the obvious choice of venue must be England, the home of football. We have already shown that we can host big events – look at the London Olympics last year and the European Championships in 1996. Everything is already in place, the stadiums, hotels and transport links are more than adequate.
As commented by David Yallop of The Telegraph in 2010, England’s bid to host the World Cup in 2018 had everything. The infrastructure was judged by the FIFA committee to be far and away the best of the bidding countries. The stadium, the transport, the facilities, the legacy… it scored straight tens wherever you looked. Every box got a tick.
There would be no need to build stadiums, hotels or transport systems, unlike other countries.
In Brazil, Cuiaba told the BBC that not only will it be unable to finish its stadiums in time, but there are not even enough hotel rooms for visiting fans.
Danny Jordan, who was behind the preparation for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, said that Brazil might have to start round the clock construction if it was to get things ready in time for the tournament.
For me it’s a no brainer. If, by the FIFA end of year deadline, Brazil are unable to host the 2014 World Cup finals, bring them home to England. Imagine the excitement it will create and the boom to our economy. And maybe, just maybe, we could win it again on English soil.
Would you like to see the World Cup in England? Will it ever happen? Let us know your thoughts below or tweet us @LaFootyettes.