As first reported by The18 yesterday, in the least surprising news since The Pope admitted to a fondness for Jesus, FIFA’s investigation into alleged corruption and improper conduct during the 2018/2022 World Cup Bidding Process has cleared the successful Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018 bid teams of any wrong-doing.
Tomorrow is Halloween! And today is Thursday!
To combine these two landmark events, we have created a Throwback Thursday of the best costumes from the 2014 World Cup - plus some other, random, soccer-related costume ideas. Need a last-minute idea for that Halloween costume party? Maybe one of these photos will grab you and you can go out as a crazed soccer fan.
Idea #1: Netherlands Carrot Guy
So apparently Germany broke the World Cup trophy. This isn’t the first time a team has broken their championship hardware. Sergio Ramos dropped the Copa del Rey trophy, Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators dropped the NCAA's crystal basketball, and who knows what really happens to the Stanley Cup every year...and those are just a couple.
We here at The18 have touched on the fiasco that is the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process. We have now learned that the report on possible ethics violations will not be made public following the 18-month investigation.
For the next four years (at least), Germany will be the kings of soccer. It was a long time coming for Deutschland who finished 2nd in 2002 and had back-to-back third place finishes in the past two World Cups. They were the best team of the tournament and there really is no debating that.
We here at The18 have taken a critical look at Brazil’s preparation for the World Cup, especially when it comes to stadium infrastructure. It’s necessary to say that the Itaquerao, the stadium hosting the opening match between Brazil and Croatia, is still not finished. But, for the moment, let's put those worries aside and look at the 12 stadiums that will host the 2014 World Cup's 64 matches.
It has been three-and-a-half years since FIFA president Sepp Blatter awarded Qatar the 2022 FIFA World Cup.