But the shock of the day came in the 2022 race, where Qatar beat off stiff competition from the United States, Australia and Asian rivals South Korea and Japan in a remarkable result.
Qatar 2022 bid president Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani said his country's victory had defied the odds.
"We started off being written off, being the unconventional bid. And no-one thought we had a chance to win," he said.
"On behalf of millions living in the Middle East, thank you FIFA for having such bold vision. We have a date with history which is summer 2022."
At least Obama didn't have to show up person and lobby for our bid. That would have killed it for sure and made us look even more stupid on the world stage then we already do. So we just got beat by an unconventional bid. Plus, South Africa showed the world that a dicey part of the globe can host an awesome World Cup (vuvzelas excepted.)
So luckily we didn't have our President looking like a doof yet again like when Chicago's failed its bid for the Olympics. He did put in lip service though:
Even US President Barack Obama, who had recorded a personal appeal in support of the beaten American bid, criticised the FIFA ruling.
"I think it was the wrong decision," Obama told reporters in Washington.
Well, time will tell about that. The only problem I would have is that isn't Qatar like super-fricken hot during the summer? I guess a huge spate of indoor stadiums is in order for the UAE. In the words of the US Marines in Iraq "hydrate, hydrate, and when you are done hydrate some more."
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