Spain hosted the ‘82 World Cup without a single vote in its favor
SPAIN
It took place in Mexico in 1970, it was Europe’s turn in 1974. Germany and Spain made their bids. Spain withdrew before the voting, and it was automatically awarded the 1982 tournament
- Xavier Bosch
xavierbosch.cat
The first week of the World Cup coincided with the broadcast of some documentaries and shows that try to prove that Qatar was awarded this tournament by bribing officials with money bags and foreign investment. The western world has condemned the fact that football has been used to lend legitimacy to dictatorships.
A lot has been said about Argentina 78 when Videla’s regime kidnapped and murdered innocent people. Although Videla suffered a coup in 1976, the host of the tournament had been decided 10 years prior in London in 1966. That was the same day that locations for 1974 and 1982 were chosen. Given that Asia and Africa weren’t taken under consideration from a sports standpoint, it was decided that one of the tournaments would be held in Europe, and another one in America. So after Mexico 1970, it was Europe’s turn. Germany and Spain made their bids to host.
Before the voting took place, Spain decided to withdraw, and automatically got hosting duties for 1982 without going through the voting. In contrast to Argentina, who hosted the World Cup in democracy, Franco’s Spain got the bragging rights of hosting the 1982 edition, but the ‘Generalisimo’ couldn’t see a single match. Even in 1982, Spain had gotten other another attempted coup. However, Franco’s heir was the one in charge of opening the World Cup in Camp Nou.
