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Spain and Portugal fear FIFA distaste for joint bid

Good food and accommodation, warm weather, modern stadiums and a century of soccer tradition are all sound reasons to hold the 2018 World Cup in Spain and Portugal, the two nations’ officials say.

Stacked against their joint bid, though, is FIFA’s apparent reluctance to stage global soccer’s premier competition across two countries.

A FIFA technical report published last week noted that co-hosting “could pose challenges...in terms of ensuring consistent standards and implementation in various areas such as legal, IT, frequencies, safety and security.”

Angel Maria Villar, president of the Spanish soccer federation and a FIFA vice president, acknowledged the reservations expressed in the report but said FIFA president Sepp Blatter did not personally oppose joint bids.

“The president himself...is the very person who has noted that any reservations about a joint bid can be addressed,” he said in an interview published in Spain’s Marca sports daily on Friday. “Blatter has never opposed it.”

The World Cup has only once been split between two hosts, when Japan and South Korea shared the task in 2002.

The Spanish feel their triumph at this year’s World Cup in South Africa deserves reward.

They also argue that they have the necessary expertise, having hosted the tournament in 1982, while Portugal was the venue for the 2004 European Championship.

Both countries have some impressive stadiums such as the Nou Camp in Barcelona, the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and Portugal’s finest in Lisbon and Porto.

New stadiums are being built in Valencia and Madrid while others are at the drawing-board stage in Bilbao and Zaragoza.

Bid chief executive Miguel Angel Lopez said publicly this week that he believed the bid would attract at least eight votes in the first round of the executive committee poll, leaving him moderately confident of winning against England, Russia and another joint bid, Netherlands/Belgium.

Single centre

Gilberto Madail, Portuguese soccer federation president, said the Iberian bidders were well aware of FIFA’s attitude and had taken steps to address it.

“We well understood before presenting our candidacy that FIFA’s big problem was with two different centres,” he told Marca.

“That’s why we presented a single bid with a single centre, which is Madrid. It’s as if the whole of Iberia was one country.”

The Spanish/Portuguese candidacy has also been overshadowed by allegations in a British newspaper of voting collusion with Qatar, who are bidding for the 2022 World Cup which will also be decided in the Dec. 2 voting.

The charges were vigorously denied by the countries, and FIFA’s ethics committee, which investigated the case, decided they were unfounded.

Madail said the FIFA committee’s ruling confirmed that what he called “rumours spread by certain English media” had no basis in fact.

Villar added: “Our bid explained to FIFA that there was no pact with Qatar or anyone else. There was no fear of being found guilty because there was nothing to accuse us of.

“In a sporting battle we all use our weapons but within the rules. But, yes, it is a fight as we all want to win.”

Another potential stumbling block for the bid is the financial crisis gripping the two nations. The fallout may lead to delays in building a high-speed rail link between the neighbours, seen as a key part of the infrastructure.

“It’s true that the economic situation is not good but it won’t prevent us from fulfilling our commitments,” said Madail.

Facts and figures relating to the joint Spain/Portugal bid to stage the 2018 World Cup finals:

Bid motto: “We play as a team, united by enthusiasm”

Why are they bidding?

Spain and Portugal believe it is their turn even though the former hosted the tournament in 1982 and Portugal staged the European Championships in 2004.

They argue that a century of soccer tradition and a friendly climate make them the ideal venue. Spain also feel it would be a just reward for their World Cup win in South Africa this year.

Best footballing moments:

Spain: Following up their coronation as European champions in 2008 to become world champions this year. They also won the 1964 European title.

Portugal: Reaching third place at the 1966 World Cup, their first appearance at the finals, and finishing runners-up on home soil at Euro 2004, although at the time that defeat to Greece was a huge disappointment.

Best-known footballers:

Spain: Argentinian-born Alfredo Di Stefano is regarded as the country’s best, even though he never appeared in a World Cup. Today’s greats include Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Fernando Torres and Raul.

Portugal: Three World Player of the Year winners from three generations. Mozambique-born striker Eusebio led the side in 1966, Luis Figo was the star of the “Golden Generation” of the 1990s and Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the world’s most expensive player.

Previous World Cup performances:

Spain: 13 appearances, champions 2010

Portugal: Five appearances, third place in 1966.

Main stadiums for 2018:

Spain: Real Madrid’s 80,000-capacity Bernabeu stadium will likely host the final.

Portugal: The Luz Stadium in Lisbon with a capacity of 65,000.

Best points: The bid says the nations’ stadiums are among the world’s best in terms of comfort and security. It also highlights hotel infrastructure, which copes with millions of tourists every year, efficient transport networks and high-tech telecommunications.

Possible drawbacks: The bid may suffer from FIFA’s apparent reluctance to stage World Cups across two countries.

The financial crisis may lead to delays in building a high-speed rail link between the nations, seen as a key part of the infrastructure.

Legacy point: Bid officials say their World Cup would be directed towards making soccer “another driving force that can overcome barriers of exclusion, create a respect for difference and diversity, disseminate values of sustainability and, finally, create a tangible legacy in which fans can participate in true social development”.

What they say: Angel Maria Villar, Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) president, and Gilberto Madail, Portuguese soccer federation president: “We have the backing of millions of fans of this wonderful sporting spectacle.”

Bookies’ odds: 7-2

Population: Spain: 40.2 million. Portugal: 10.7 million.

Number of clubs:

Spain: 18,190, with 42 playing in the top two professional leagues.

Portugal: 2,226, of which 32 play in the two-tier professional league.

FIFA World Rankings: Spain: 1. Portugal: 8.

Trivia fact: Portugal knocked Spain out of Euro 2004 with a 1-0 win in Lisbon and Spain returned the favour in South Africa earlier this year with a 1-0 success in Cape Town.