LONDON (AP) — A senior member of FIFA’s executive committee has criticized the decision to vote on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts at the same time in December.
Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam says that “to decide something for 2022 is quite a long time (away). You don’t know what will happen in these 12 years … 2022 should be decided in 2016.”
The Qatari, whose homeland is bidding for the 2022 edition, believes it was a commercial decision to guarantee the revenue coming into FIFA.
Hammam, one of 24 World Cup voters, also told the Leaders in Football conference Thursday that if the 2022 tournament doesn’t go to Asia he expects China to bid for 2026.
