The ambitious football association of the United Arab Emirates would love to host the World Cup one day... and are not going to let summertime temperatures pushing 50c stop them.
The UAE are bidding to host the World Club Cup Championship in 2009, and are looking to follow that up with an attemptfor international football's premier event.
The earliest the oil-rich Gulf-state could host the tournament would be 2018, which would put them in direct competition with England.
The country is clearly lacking in infrastructure, but has the money to match the highest budget any other country can rustle up.
And although the intense summer heat, which makes even standing outside for five minutes unbearable, is a problem the UAE are refusing to give up.
"At the moment we do have a problem with the timing of the event," admitted Mohammed Khalfan al Rumaithi, speaking to The National newspaper.
"The summer here is unbelievably hot and you cannot play football. Will Fifa accept to play it then or later, like October? These are the things we have to see about.
"The capabilities that we have here are tremendous and there is a great future for this part of the world. A lot of emphasis is put on sport in the Emirates and especially on football, so I will not be surprised if we make a bid for the World Cup and it happens in the future.
"I think the World Cup will come here. When? I cannot say, but for now, maybe it is too soon."
The earliest the oil-rich Gulf-state could host the tournament would be 2018, which would put them in direct competition with England.
The country is clearly lacking in infrastructure, but has the money to match the highest budget any other country can rustle up.
And although the intense summer heat, which makes even standing outside for five minutes unbearable, is a problem the UAE are refusing to give up.
"At the moment we do have a problem with the timing of the event," admitted Mohammed Khalfan al Rumaithi, speaking to The National newspaper.
"The summer here is unbelievably hot and you cannot play football. Will Fifa accept to play it then or later, like October? These are the things we have to see about.
"The capabilities that we have here are tremendous and there is a great future for this part of the world. A lot of emphasis is put on sport in the Emirates and especially on football, so I will not be surprised if we make a bid for the World Cup and it happens in the future.
"I think the World Cup will come here. When? I cannot say, but for now, maybe it is too soon."
