“For most of world football’s 208 nations, winning the World Cup is a distant dream: Four countries—Italy, Germany, Brazil and Argentina—have won 14 of the 19 World Cups since the competition began and only eight different teams have ever lifted the trophy. This is the ultimate old boys’ club. Winning the right to host the World Cup isn’t such a grand ambition, but for most of the planet, it remains a more realistic objective. Nine countries are bidding to host the tournament in 2018 or 2022, including four bidders from Europe, four from the Asian confederation, and the U.S., representing Central and North America.” (WSJ)