Qatar World Cup Pick Proves FIFA Is Dirty

American soccer fans are furious that FIFA picked Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup over the US, and with good reason, writes Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated. He calls the pick “the biggest indictment possible that FIFA is not a clean organization.” If the US had lost to Australia, that would have been perfectly credible. “But Qatar is a huge risk for FIFA.”

The biggest problem is Qatar’s 110-degree summer heat, which could put the health of players and fans at risk, even if Qatar follows through on its plans to build air-conditioned stadiums. It’s also a lousy tourist destination, and in a not-exactly-stable region of the world. “The message here is that petrodollars talk,” says Wahl. The US, meanwhile, presented such a strong case that it raises the question: “Is it even possible to win the World Cup bid while playing by the rules?” (More FIFA stories.)