Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
The African continent will have to wait for almost a decade before it can be assured of hosting the world's biggets soccer frenzy, the World Cup, following Qatar's bid win to pull the world to its soccer turf come 2022.
South Africa was probably the first and last African country to host the cup - which has not been won by the continent, for many years.
Surprisingly, Qatar, a small rich Arab country, has a number of the bizarre things standing out though given the nod by world soccer governing body, FIFA.
Unlike South Africa, the country has a climate where outdoor sport can kill you, and in three of Qatar's nominated "host cities", there are currently not enough inhabitants to fill the 45,000-seat stadiums to be built there.
On a peninsula one-sixth the size of Tasmania, the population of Qatar is just 1.6 million and the majority are foreign workers. Most live in the main cities of Doha and Al-Rayyan.
However, FIFA found no problem with the idea that satellite hubs Umm-Slal (pop 44,177), Al-Daayen (36,592) and Ul-Shamal (11,229) will be sites for not only World Cup games but national teams to stay as well.
Put simply, there is not much to Qatar above ground. FIFA played ball and now Qatar will plough $40 billion into constructing nine stadiums and refitting another three.
It will also spend a staggering $100 billion on infrastructure, nailing hopes by other major African economies to vie for the lucrative 'host' chance in the coming decade.
The African continent will have to wait for almost a decade before it can be assured of hosting the world's biggets soccer frenzy, the World Cup, following Qatar's bid win to pull the world to its soccer turf come 2022.
