One gold trophy, two green bands, two new countries.

The World Cup is venturing into unknown territory - Russia will host the tournament in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, no thanks to two bellends that were suspended from voting amid allegations of vote-selling. I didn't think Qatar would get to host because a) it's too hot during the day, b) their laws do not allow recognition of Israel, and c) Islam, which is the predominant religion on both sides of the Gulf, forbids the consumption of alcohol and rightly so because of all the health and social problems involved. But they can overcome all that by having solar-powered air conditioners to cool the stadiums, letting Israel participate, and allowing consumption of alcohol purchased from special "fan zones". I just hope that alcohol doesn't cause any problems during the event like it did at the Four Nations doubleheader in Eden Park last month when spectators were chucking beer bottles onto the field.