But while it might seem premature to discuss a World Cup so far away, Wei's comments could have a major impact on the selection process for 2018 and 2022. FIFA likes to rotate the hosting duties by continent every four years. Because Brazil is hosting the next tournament in 2014, FIFA has been expected to give the 2018 World Cup to Europe (England and a joint Spain-Portugal bid are the favorites) and the 2022 tournament to Asia (Japan, South Korea, Qatar and Australia are in the running). But if China is seriously eyeing a 2026 bid, FIFA may decide to skip Asia in 2022 and give that World Cup to the only North American bidder the U.S.
One thing is fairly certain: FIFA, the organization that runs the World Cup and decides the hosts, would likely do backflips if China tossed its hat in the ring, opening up the largest untapped soccer market in the world. Wei said as much in another interview last month with Titan Sports, the country's leading sports newspaper, noting that FIFA president Sepp Blatter told him that China's rising influence in the world means there's an "irresistible trend" toward China hosting the event. (Although Blatter has encouraged a China bid in the past, he's also been forceful in his support of Qatar's 2022 bid, saying in April, "The Arab world deserves to host the World Cup.") In another sign of how serious China is about hosting, Wei has also made statements that appear aimed at influencing the 2022 decision, openly backing the U.S. bid and taking unsportsmanlike potshots at Qatar. "Qatar is so hot," he told Titan Sports. "What's the population of that country? How can they fill their venues with people?"
To the tune of "The Great Escape": 
