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Close race to host 2010 World Cup
The president of soccer's world governing body FIFA has said that the race to host the 2010 World Cup in Africa could be much tighter than expected.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:06 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Johannesburg:
The president of soccer's world governing body FIFA on Monday suggested that the race to host the 2010 World Cup in Africa could be much tighter than expected. Sepp Blatter, who is currently visiting South Africa, said he thought that the race may even be as close as that to host the 2006 World Cup. On that occasion Germany edged out South Africa by a single vote. South Africa is hoping for better luck this time when FIFA executives vote on May 15. But Blatter expressed hope that he would not have to make a casting vote. Favourites to win South Africa are favourites to clinch the tournament, but face strong competition from Morocco, which is making a fourth attempt to host the World Cup. Egypt, Tunisia and Libya are also bidding, but the latter two have seriously damaged their chances by suggesting a co-hosted event despite Blatter's disapproval South Africa has long cried foul over the vote four years ago, which Germany unexpectedly won by one vote after Oceania delegate Charles Dempsey defied instructions and abstained. The country has left little to chance this time and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela is expected to fly to Zurich, Switzerland for the FIFA vote on May 15.Topics mentioned in this article
Football
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