U.S. Soccer fans felt snubbed this morning, to say the least, when FIFA's Executive Committee announced that the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups would be Russia and Qatar, respectively. That announcement set off a wave of reaction from both soccer aficionados and media members around the world. We scoured Twitter to compile a few of our favorite 1-liners:
@alecko11 (Alecko Eskandarian, former Galaxy/MLS player): Armenia for the 2026 World Cup!!! Best way to qualify is to host. Genius move Qatar! Going thru 2 yrs worth of qualifiers is so overrated...
@bommadog (Andy Williams, RSL): Sitting on my camel, switching sand dunes. Screaming money ain't a thang lol
@PeterLowry (Peter Lowry, Portland Timbers): In related news, sunscreen futures spiked 1000% in the middle east ahead of the decision to hold the 2022 world cup in Qatar.
@ChrisPontius13 (Chris Pontius, DC United): and to make things even worse....Quatar is trending.....its Qatar people
@TaylorTwellman (Taylor Twellman, former NE Rev/MLS player): Will @ussoccer travel to Qatar via #NASA?? How else do we get to the sun?? #deepthoughtswithtaylor
@JimmyConrad_com (Jimmy Conrad, Sporting Kansas City): Sports: Even The People Who Run The BCS For College Football Can't Explain How The U.S. Failed To Secure The Bid For The 2022 World Cup.
@geoffcameron (Geoff Cameron, Houston Dynamo): USA bid for 2026 should be led by Chuck Norris!
@landondonovan (Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy): I have an idea…we play Qatar in a friendly (they can even host it), and the winner gets to host the 2022 WC... wait, do they even have a team?
@KyleMartino (Kyle Martino, former player/soccer analyst): Ok, here's my idea: we use the Trojan Horse play in our 2026 bid. Only instead of assassins jumping out we will fill it w Money for Sepp.
@GrantWahl (Grant Wahl, Sports Illustrated): Choosing Qatar and Russia is the biggest indictment possible that FIFA is not a clean organization. Petrodollars talk.
@SoccerbyIves (Ives Galercep, Soccer by Ives blog): If USA is going to bid for 2026 I nominate Nucky Thompson to lead the bid. He speaks FIFA's language. #WorldCupEmpire
@OfficialSanta (Santa, unofficially): Sepp Blatter IS ON THE NAUGHTY LIST
@Sportsguy33 (Bill Simmons, Sports Guy colummnist): Qatar needs to thank its special consultant for the 2022 WC bid: Cam Newton's father.
@SteveDavis90 (Steve Davis, SI.com contributor): I can handle no beer for a month. And soaring temps. But the same time?
@RunnerLuis (Luis Bueno, Galaxy beat writer): NFL should follow FIFA's lead and award a Super Bowl to a high school in North Dakota.
@yanksarecoming (independent US Soccer blog): To clarify, the good news about Russia winning is that Sarah Palin can watch #worldcup2018 from her house.
@PeterLowry: I hear Kazakhstan is in the mix for 2026. It's rumored they have Borat on the bid committee already.
@GrantWahl: Well, Russia lost once today. Just turned down a Russian hooker at posh FIFA ExCo hotel in Zurich.
@SoccerByIves: "I don't know what the motivation & rationale of all voters was"-Sunil Gulati. Translated="I have no idea what those idiots were smoking."
