There has been a huge outcry in the British, American, Spanish and Australian bids over FIFA's announcement of the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Unfortunately, all of them: The New York Times, The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, Marca and their likes, fail to understand the meaning of the WORLD cup.

As Gabriel Marcotti, has pointed out in his column in Sports Illustrated, we might as well have the World Cup hosted in 3 or 4 countries all the time, or just in Germany every time. It is a well known fact that no matter where it is hosted, the World Cup will be a success. The main revenue comes from television anyways. But the western media tend to overlook the fact that just 6 months back, when FIFA and South Africa proved all the naysayers wrong and conducted an extremely successful World Cup.

I was lucky enough to be at South Africa for the entire duration of the tournament. And there was none of the problems that the western media had pointed out before the tournament. The stadiums were impeccable. There were no terrorists attacks, in fact security was fantastic. No incidents of crimes. And the very hospitable South Africans made sure all the visitors left with a smile on their faces.

My driver in South Africa told me with a beaming face, "We have shown the world what we can do. Everyone said Africa cannot do it. You can see the results yourselves. Today I'm very proud of my country and am proud to be South African."

Everyone enjoyed South Africa 2010, didn't they?
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Absolutely true. Today Durban is touted as a strong candidate for the 2020 Olympics. FIFA and Sepp Blatter must be lauded for this change in impression. And this is the grand opportunity that the Arabs and Eastern Europe have.

Russia intelligently put the statistics in their presentation: Western Europe 10, Eastern Europe 0. Their presentation had everything: showing the dreams of young kids like Sasha, Isinbayeba talking how the bid would help women (no other bid mentioned the fairer sex), and it ended with the entire Russia becoming one big playground. No offense to the Sochi games, but the World Cup of football is a bigger event.

It would improve the infrastructure of the entire country, not just a single city. The World Cup would give the impetus to build better roads, rail links between cities, and spring out many hotels. And the no-visa and free ground transport facility to match ticket holders definitely makes things more feasible.

And why not Qatar? Just because the oil fuels the economy, doesn't mean it doesn't deserve the chance to hold the World Cup. Isn't the United States of America worse? It is waging a war for oil. Strangely, nobody raised the questions of heat with the Iberian bid, where temperatures rise up over 40ºC in the June-July. Hypocrites.

Like South Africa 2010, this World Cup presents a the opportunity to change the impression about the Arab world. A chance, as the Sheikh said, "to change the misconceptions" of the Arab world. It also gives a chance for an Arab nation to change: to integrate new things into their culture so that their society improves.

Qatari delegation celebrating their successful bid
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They're building air-conditioned stadiums running on clean technology. Qatar has a burgeoning economy that can build and sustain this proven technology. Also most of the matches occur at night/late evenings, shouldn't be so much of a problem. Despite this, the Organizing Committee says all matches, training facilities will be at 27ºC, none of the other bids presented such ideal conditions. Plus a compact world cup, after 3 large ones (South Africa, Brazil and Russia), would be a welcome change.

If England had got the 2018 and USA 2022, the corruption allegations in FIFA would have been brushed under the carpet, wouldn't it? The corrupt officials were suspended. The questions raised in the Panorama program have been addressed by FIFA long back. Looks like the grapes are all too sour. The sooner they stop looking at the "developing world" (as they like to call it), with a Slumdog Millionaire attitude, the better.

To re-iterate, it is called a WORLD cup for a reason. If all 208 countries do not get an equal opportunity to host it, the game would never grow. Give Eastern Europe and the Arabs a chance. They will surely not disappoint, and leave a legacy behind that no one will forget.