Colombia Challenge Brazil To Host 2014 World Cup
Under FIFA’s continental rotation policy, the 2014 World Cup will definitely be in South America. Way back in 2003, the various South American football federations gave their official backing to Brazil, so it was assumed their candidacy would be uncontested. Colombia have decided otherwise, and are launching a late bid to host the tournament.
“It’s not going to be easy but there are possibilities and we’re going to do everything we can,” said Colombian vice-president Fernando Santos. “I believe we need to work on every front so that we can compete and create some competition, competition is healthy.”
CONMEBOL President Nicolás Leoz is firmly behind Brazil.” The first option to host the 2014 World Cup is Brazil. They officially asked for the honour and were supported by the ten South American federations,” said the Paraguayan after a meeting with Santos. “They had the big chance in 1986 but they were replaced by Mexico because they had several economic problems,” he added.
That failure won’t have won Colombia any friends at FIFA, though they (mostly) successfully hosted the Copa America in 2001.
Brazil have their own problems though. While their footballing history would make them a popular choice, there are still doubts about the nation’s ability to host such an event. Even Pelé isn’t convinced, and Sepp Blatter isn’t impressed with Brazil’s stadia.
FIFA will make a decision in 2008, and Brazil will hope to use the Rio based 2007 Pan-American Games to prove their worth.
Related Posts
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share        |
Comments
Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 30 comments.
Read the rest of the comments
By Red | July 24th, 2006 at 5:17 am 
Argentina being scared of terrorist threats sounds like a personal problem. If I read the Wiki article correctly it said that there were NO terrorist incidents during the games. In fact, Argentina drew criticism for backing out, not Colombia. That said, the 2001 Copa America was simply successfull in Colombia and not deserving of the “semi-successfull” annotation by Daryl.
As a Colombian who has recently travelled to the country, I can honestly say that all the kidnapping and terrorist jibba jabba is really blown out proportion. Colombia has come a long way since the 80s. The country is probably as safe as the rest of the countries in South America. Tourists don’t need to fear for their lives travelling there.
I can’t speak so much for the economic status of the country but the bad rep Colombia has for terrorism and kidnappings has stuck far too long.
Anyway, I’ll be happy no matter where the Cup is and I’ll probably travel to either country.
P.S. The South American country we are talking about does not have the letter ‘u’ in it. Very common, and rather annoying, spelling error.
By Daniel | July 24th, 2006 at 5:43 am One tip, the wife of Nicolas Leoz, President of the Conmebol is Colombian, so we could except a little of “pressure” from that side.
Colombia after the “Plan Colombia” has a lot of economic support from USA, so probably there will be some back up from american companies if there is a chance of organizing the WC.
In the last year I heard a proposal to offer the WC to Chile and Argentina, after the success of the Korea/Japan WC, and in that way the countries will not have much economic problems, because they will split the number of stadiums that will be need.
Posted from 
United States
By Daniel | July 24th, 2006 at 5:46 am But a WC in Brazil will be great, imagine the mix between football, caipirinhas, garotas and nice beaches… at least for me, great mixture.
Posted from United States
By daryl | July 24th, 2006 at 6:01 am Red,
Noted, agreed and corrected.
Posted from United States
By futebolblinger | July 24th, 2006 at 2:09 pm They must give it to BRAZIL, I still dream how would it be, you know walks on the beach and girls shackin what their mama’s gave’em and so do their moms…….anyways my point is COLOMBIA is definately going to be a disaster as those gangs over are worst than brazilian and South African gangsterz…….
By azy | July 24th, 2006 at 2:46 pm I think the best choose is argentina , is more more better than brazil and so colombia is the worse ,becouse is not safe at all.
By Materazzi | July 24th, 2006 at 5:23 pm What about Guatemala? or Nicaragua?
Posted from 
France
By Vicki | July 24th, 2006 at 8:14 pm Argentina ia my choice. Give it to Brasil and they will cheat to win another cup once again. (remember 2002 against Turkey and Belgium???)
I’d pick Columbia over Brasil any day!
Anyhow, if it goes to Brasil, I’ll most definitely bet a few thounsand $$’s on them. May as well profit from their win.
Posted from 
Canada
By Ana | July 24th, 2006 at 8:29 pm It should most definitely be brought back to Brasil, where the sport belongs 
Comparing the present day economy to 1986’s is unrealistic. Sure there will be myriad security problems to deal with, but that’s also true of Colombia. Brasil is far better equipped.
By Pavla | July 24th, 2006 at 9:01 pm Basically, wherever the world cup will be held outside of the first world, you’ll hear people running their mouths about safety this and safety that. As if there were no ghettos in Atlanta. Left to some people, only European, countries, the U.S and Canada and one or two Asian countries should ever host the world cup.
I think brasil will be fine. I am less confident about Colombia — but I am sure that even they will rise up to the event if need be.
Posted from United States
By Jose | July 25th, 2006 at 6:07 am I is incredible how people can be full of prejudice. Anyone that has been in colombia knows there is no country in the world like it, AND THIS IS TRUE. I hope the lord gives the world a chance to see the great event colombia will organize. I’m not saying Brasil is a bad choice, but lets let Fifa decide, any country can compete and the colombian people have the capacity
By Red | July 25th, 2006 at 8:13 am Well said, Pavla. I was thinking the same thing.
No matter where the World Cup is held, that country will rise to the occasion and do their best to make it a successful event.
By JC | July 25th, 2006 at 6:13 pm Brazil is the biggest economy in Latin America. It´s the only country that could really come up with the money to make such event happen. In ´86 democracy had just been reinstalled. Now it´s a whole different deal. The Brazilian economy is strong and plays an important role in the world economy. Things are not all bad as people might think.
And for those who don´t know, Brazil has all the comodities of a rich country. Remember, the news are only interested in showing the bad stuff. It´s not all like that in the everyday life.
If South Africa can host the tournament, why can´t Brazil? After all, the African country has as much social problems as Brazil.
For a country with the number one football team and where football is like a religion, I think Brazil is the most suitable place in South America to host the World Cup for 2014.
By Alex | August 1st, 2006 at 3:03 pm Vicki, from canada, are you crazy brazil would never cheat. Brazilians are born with soccer balls in there mothers whom, its the country where the greatest soccer players come from. Brazilians are just born amazingly(if thats a real word) good.
But being a Colombian american, Colombia isnt that bad. I went to Colombia in 2004 with my girl friend, a blond, polish, pale girl and neither me nor her felt threatend. Its not the 80’s where Escobar is trying to take over the country. Those days of really bad terrorism are pretty much behind us. Yes, we do have some economical problems, but the support of american companies we’ll be fine. Don’t think of colombia by its bloody past, thats what it is, the past.
Posted from United States
By Diego | August 7th, 2006 at 11:40 pm Well. Im argentinian, and for me the WC to be held in Argentina would be awesome, and Argentina CAN 100% do it by themselves, and chile cant, and dont want to host it, especially side by side with argentina. another reason is because most likely they Will not qualify for the WC, but Argentina is most likely, if its not Argentina.. than im saying its going directly to the U.S
Posted from Canada
By Lewo | August 11th, 2006 at 8:39 am i think colombia should host the wc 2014 because they havnt hosted it yet. Also if brazil or argentina hosted it, it would just be boring because they would definetly win it
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Lewo | August 11th, 2006 at 8:41 am i think the wc 2014 should be held in oceania in new zealand coz im new zealander nd it hasnt been held there yet, but supose they are pretty rubbish at football.
Posted from United Kingdom
By fedee | August 13th, 2006 at 8:52 am y do so many of u think colombia is such a bad country its not like u have ever gone there so stop judging a country that u have never been to.colombia is beautiful there will be no better place than colombia to host the WC.
Posted from United States
By Sebas | September 16th, 2006 at 3:18 pm Wait a minute TITI! Colombia had the money to host 1986 WC. The president said no, because he wanted to build school and hospitals, the problem is that they didn’t built them! fukin presindent lol
Posted from United States
By marco | October 5th, 2006 at 6:52 am MEXICO IS THE BEST PLACE TO DO IT 2014 BECAUSE IS THE RICHEST LATIN COUNTRY AND IT ALREADY HAS THE EXPERIENCE OF A WORLD CUP. MEXICO IS ALSO BRINGING ITS ECONOMY A LOT, YOU WOULDNT BELEIVE IT. PLUS IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE UNITED STATES. MEXICO IS ALSO MORE SAFETY THAN ANY OTHER LATIN COUNTRY.
Posted from United States
By juan | October 14th, 2006 at 1:30 pm i think it would be great if they do it in colombia because brazil has many more problems than colombia for examplae gang problems, mafia, and is one of the poorest countries in the world, while in the other hand Colombia has very beutiful things i went there last summer i loved it and i didint get kidnaped. the “guerrilla” is not that bad in colombia no more because of the great work that president Alvaro Uribe Velez has done in that plecent country……
Posted from United States
By juan | October 14th, 2006 at 1:32 pm colombia CAN aford a WORL CUP there because it does not have that many economic problems any more….
Posted from United States
By Yes, Colombia | November 4th, 2006 at 5:32 pm would be great to have a WC in Colombia, is a magical contry, really! you have to go there to see really how is this place!
Posted from 
Austria
By Peter | November 27th, 2006 at 7:35 am It just seems Brazil doesnt have the stadia at the moment but does Colombia? Surely not. I really hope one of the S.American countries can host it in 2014 as it’s already been 28 years since the World Cup was in the continent. Seems that Argentina is the safest bet to organise it properly but last time S.America had it it was hosted by them. Time for someone new to host it, Colombia would be good, but better Brazil or Agentina than a nation in another continent.
Posted from United Kingdom
By rey | March 26th, 2007 at 1:20 pm they should do it in cuba.!! jajajaaaj
Comments are closed
