Qatar overpriced to host 2022 FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup scheduled for Qatar in 2022 is back in the news with lots of talk about how the event could go ahead given the host nation’s scorching summer heat.

The talk prompted one to review the odds that bookmakers are offering about the 2022 FIFA World Cup and one was stunned to see that some of them do not rate Qatar as the favourite to host the event, with Paddy Power listing odds of 2.80Bet €100 to win €2809/5Bet £100 to win £280+180Bet $100 to win $2801.80Bet HK$100 to win HK$2801.80Bet Rp100 to win Rp280-0.5556Bet RM100 to win RM280 that the Middle East country stages the tournament.

Whatever one thinks about the bidding process for the 2022 FIFA World Cup – and the 2018 FIFA World Cup – the reality is that FIFA has awarded the event to Qatar and it would create the most almighty of almighty stinks if the governing body revoked the Middle East nation’s hosting rights.

One mentions the 2018 FIFA World Cup because it does matter – a lot – since its award to Russia is tied up with Qatar’s award of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. If FIFA goes after Qatar then it should go after Russia as well. Surely FIFA is not going to pick a fight with Russia, not least because the 2018 FIFA World Cup is fewer than four years away and its leader, Vladimir Putin, does not take kindly to losing.

There are reports that the European Club Association, a body of 214 parties that includes the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munchen and Manchester United, is preparing to ask FIFA to move the 2022 FIFA World Cup to a window between late April and late May. According to meteorological sources, Qatar’s average high temperature in May is 38 degrees Celsius and its average low temperature in that month is 25 degrees Celsius. So it would seem that the big clubs think that Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and now they must lobby FIFA for the tournament to be a suitable time.

What caught one’s eye recently was the suggestion of Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who is considering challenging Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, that the 2022 FIFA World Cup should take place at night in Qatar to avoid the heat of the day. According to Mayne-Nicholls, 2022 FIFA World Cup games could kick off at 7.00pm, 10.00pm and 1.00am, which would result in pretty good viewing times for European football fans – Qatar is one hour ahead of Central European Summer Time – and do away with the need to move the event from its traditional window of mid June to mid July.

Money talks in football even more than it does in other walks of life and one can see the proposal of Mayne-Nicholls gaining traction as push comes to shove and FIFA has to make a final decision about the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Playing 2022 FIFA World Cup matches at the aforementioned times in June and July would, in all likelihood, mean playing conditions of around 30 degrees Celsius but without the glare of the sun, television-friendly timeslots for European broadcasters and no need to disrupt the various European league programs.

One is of the firm belief that Qatar is more likely to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup than it is to lose the right to put on the tournament. The United States of America is the only realistic alternative to Qatar so, if one is a conservative punter, one could save one’s Qatar’s stake with a bet on the USA at odds of 3.00Bet €100 to win €3002/1Bet £100 to win £300+200Bet $100 to win $3002.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$3002.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp300-0.5000Bet RM100 to win RM300 with BetVictor. Backing Qatar at odds of 2.80Bet €100 to win €2809/5Bet £100 to win £280+180Bet $100 to win $2801.80Bet HK$100 to win HK$2801.80Bet Rp100 to win Rp280-0.5556Bet RM100 to win RM280 and saving on the United States of America at odds of 3.00Bet €100 to win €3002/1Bet £100 to win £300+200Bet $100 to win $3002.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$3002.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp300-0.5000Bet RM100 to win RM300 produces a bet on Qatar at odds of around 1.87Bet €100 to win €18787/100Bet £100 to win £187-115Bet $100 to win $1870.87Bet HK$100 to win HK$187-1.15Bet Rp100 to win Rp1870.8700Bet RM100 to win RM187.

Tips Summary

Qatar to host World Cup 2022
Odds: 2.80Bet €100 to win €2809/5Bet £100 to win £280+180Bet $100 to win $2801.80Bet HK$100 to win HK$2801.80Bet Rp100 to win Rp280-0.5556Bet RM100 to win RM280
Where to Bet: Paddy Power

Saver on USA at 3.00Bet €100 to win €3002/1Bet £100 to win £300+200Bet $100 to win $3002.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$3002.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp300-0.5000Bet RM100 to win RM300 with BetVictor for dutched odds of 1.87Bet €100 to win €18787/100Bet £100 to win £187-115Bet $100 to win $1870.87Bet HK$100 to win HK$187-1.15Bet Rp100 to win Rp1870.8700Bet RM100 to win RM187