As FIFA has now made clear its desire to have future World Cups in areas without a strong football tradition, a new frontrunner has already emerged for the next World Cup to be assigned:
Antarctica 2026.
The bid spokesman, Ranulph Scott-Shackleton, commented "As the only entrant so far, we must be the front-runner. We don't see any problem in hosting the tournament in January as will have been traditional since Qatar 2022. We have already held exhibition matches where heaters were used to raise the temperature to a balmy 23 degrees. And we have every confidence that the 'teething problems' around the melting of the permafrost will soon be overcome." He added "I would, of course, like to send my condolences to the loved ones of the 22 victims of that tragic drowning incident."
As a precursor to the bid, 2011 will see the kick-off of the inaugural Polar Premiership, to be contested between eight new 'franchises':
New Zealand Ross Dependency Glaciers, Peter I Island Fjords, Australian Antarctic Territory Huskies, Argentine Antarctica Circles, France's Adélie Land Sang-Froid, the Queen Maud Land Freeze, Antártica (Chile) Chillers and the team already tipped as underdogs, the British Antarctic Territory Sleet.
In parallel to this, they will also contest the Terra Australis Trophy knockout competition. An elite Champions' League is planned to be run between the top 7 Polar Premiership sides and the best 7 sides from the North Pole Championship (scheduled to start in 2013). This competition will be known as the Bipolar Tournament.
The 'Silvio Berlusconi of Football', Sepp Blatter, would not be drawn into commenting upon the chances of Antarctica being awarded the 2026 World Cup but did confirm that he has ambitions to open up the World Cup to new locations even further afield. He enthused:
"Next, it's 'Mercury 2030'! Heck, listen to that tagline - it nearly rhymes. We're onto a winner, I know it!"
