Australian Gambling – With FIFA executive committee member Theo Zwanziger throwing a spanner in Qatar’s works, saying the Arab country would not host the World Cup in 2022, Sportsbet.com.au has opened up a market on which country might be able to nick soccer’s showcase event.

And the online bookmaker reckons Australia’s hopes are still alive and kicking, giving the green and gold a good shot at $6.50 to host the prestigious event.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Victorian Sports Minister Damian Drum are already on the record endorsing the state as ready to host the World Cup.

Despite true blue Aussies crossing their fingers, the country isn’t the front runner to host, in the event Qatar loses it, with the USA installed as a $2.37 favourite.

But Qatar is far from certain to no longer have the Cup, priced at $3 to keep it ahead of Germany ($10), South Korea ($11) and Germany ($11).

“We would love to have Australia as the favourite, but even if Qatar do lose the World Cup, it looks a good bet that the USA will be the front runners,” Sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson said.

It’s still eight years until the event, but it has already come under the microscope over claims of bribery and a huge number of deaths among its foreign work brigade.

And Zwanziger, on Monday, cast huge doubt over the country’s chances of hosting: “I think that at the end of the day the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar.”

The German reckons its far too hot in Qatar for the event – temperatures can break through the 45 C barrier and he’s worried foreigners won’t be able to cope in the huge, sweaty crowds.

“Doctors say, and I had insisted on this point in the protocol, that they cannot guarantee that a World Cup can be held in summer in these conditions,” Zwanziger said.