Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter said the United States would be able to organize the 2022 World Cup amid new corruption claims against Qatar.
The Gulf state will host the tournament in December 2022, the first time it did not take place during the June-July period, but the preparations have been embroiled in controversy.
“Germany could do it. But this would mean that the World Cup would be organized again in Europe after 2018,” Blatter told German media outlet Sport Bild. “Europe, therefore, would not be the first option.”
The United States is expected to co-host along with Mexico and Canada in 2026, when there will be an expanded field of 48 teams, but Blatter suggested that they move it forward.
“The United States could do it instead of 2026,” he said. “They are capable, it is not rocket science! Japan could do it, too. They also offered to host the 2022 World Cup.”
Fortunately, the 2022 World Cup will only have 32 teams and not 48 as planned [el presidente de la FIFA, Gianni Infantino]. The organizational effort would not be greater than 2018. “
Blatter ran FIFA from 1996 to 2015 and is serving a six-year ban on soccer-related activities for ethics violations. He protests his innocence and added that the governing body of world football should appoint him as honorary president.
Earlier this month, Switzerland’s federal prosecutor completed its investigation into the 84-year-old deal with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to sell World Cup broadcast rights.
“The investigations are part of a major plot against me,” Blatter said, and he found it “incredible” that investigators saw his “normal contract” with the CFU for more than four years.
In a second criminal case, Blatter is accused of agreeing to a € 1.8 million payment to then-UEFA President Michel Platini in February 2011, but Blatter is convinced that the charges will also be dropped.
“What else should federal prosecutors do? This case is not even related to criminal law,” he said. “It is a process within an association, FIFA and, therefore, civil law.”
And once Blatter has been released from all charges, he hopes to be reinstated by FIFA, the association he served for 41 years until his departure in 2015.
When asked if he should be named honorary president for making the association what it is now, he said: “This would be the best reaction from FIFA.”
However, Blatter also continues to grapple with other issues. Having been banned from his FIFA office, his successor, Infantino, has yet to return his watch collection to him.
“That is complete disrespect, you can call it impudence now,” he said. “But all this will be resolved.”
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