The Year Ahead -- Critical Period Before FIFA World Cup

The key focus for FIFA in 2009 will be South Africa's preparations to host the World Cup in 2010. (Getty Images)The FIFA schedule for the year ahead is as hectic as any other, but work of critical importance will continue through 2009 to ensure a successful debut for the World Cup finals tournament on the African continent.

There has been growing uneasiness in recent times over the preparedness of South Africa to host the tournament in 2010, with venues, security and transport topping the list of concerns.

Speaking after the last FIFA executive committee meeting for 2008 in Tokyo, FIFA President Sepp Blatter had insisted there was “no Plan B” and with less than 17 months before the tournament kicks off, South Africa will be ready.

“There is no Plan B, C or D — for those who still have doubts, I tell you the 2010 World Cup will be organized in South Africa,” Blatter told reporters.

However, Blatter had revealed earlier in the year that the world governing body had contingency plans in the case of a “natural catastrophe” or a “backlash against football."

The chief organizer for the hosts, Danny Jordan, has promised that all projects necessary to stage the event will be completed in time.

“All the stadiums will be there. There will be a transport revolution. There's no question, we will be ready,” he says.

The bolstered security effort includes 41,000 extra police, helicopter and camera surveillance and a pledge of $115 million to cover the temporary arrangements, which will include blanket security at all venues.

Blatter will be among international football diginitaries attending the African Youth Championship in Kigali, Rwanda from Jan. 18 to Feb. 1, signaling efforts by FIFA to closely engage with the African continent in the lead-up to the World Cup.

There will also be considerable attention on the parallel races for the right to host the next two installments of the tournament – in 2018 and 2022.

In an unprecedented move, the FIFA executive committee will decide on both hosts in December 2010, with the two-year campaign as a result, expected to attract a record number of candidates.

High-level sporting politics is also expected to take center stage in 2009 with the threat of potential court action by the European Commission over a Blatter plan to curb the number of foreign players at clubs, known as "6+5 rule" and backed by the IOC.

An EU executive says the Blatter plans contravenes strict laws within the 27-nation bloc on the free movement of workers and has led to a stand-off between Brussels, Belgiumand Zurich, Switzerlandsimilar to one before the so-called Bosman ruling.

“FIFA is at a crossroads. I hope they take the right road, otherwise we could end up with Bosman II,” EU Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla told Reuters last month.

Other key dates for FIFA include the 59th FIFA Congress in the Bahamas between May 31 and June 3 while South Africa will have the opportunity of an important test run as host of the Confederations Cup on June 14-28.

The FIFA Under-20 World Cup will be held in Egypt from Sept. 25 to Oct. 16, while the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria kicks off Oct. 24 and runs to Nov. 15.

Dubai will host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Nov. 16-22, with the United Arab Emirates also hosting the FIFA Club World Cup Dec. 10-20.

Written by Anthony Stavrinos

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