Never one to shy away from strong opinions, New York Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill made headlines this week by saying that he believes Qatar "deserve the opportunity" to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, an opportunity controversially awarded to the country in 2010 in a decision that has come under significant scrutiny due to charges of corruption.
Cahill, who has scored in the last three World Cups, was speaking after playing for Australia in a friendly, won by Qatar 1-0, on Tuesday.
"Every time I come here, I'm like, 'Wow,'" Cahill said in post-game interviews. "They should be proud of what they are creating. For me, I have no problem [with Qatar hosting the World Cup.] … I feel they deserve the opportunity. There [are] a lot of people that talk about the heat and talk about the facilities, [but] they have to question themselves as to whether they have actually been here.
"[The people of the Middle East] will prove a lot of people wrong, and if they don't, they will hold their hands up gracefully because that's the kind of people they are."
Qatar beat out both the USA and Australia, among others, in the bidding for the 2022 World Cup, but Cahill says he's in support of giving other developing countries the chance to host FIFA marquee tournaments.
"You have to give football a chance in every nation," he said.
Having returned from international duty, Cahill will serve a one-game, red-card suspension when he sits out Sunday's game against the Columbus Crew (3 pm ET, UniMas).
