History repeated itself – albeit partially – today when the joint United 2026 bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico won the right to stage the Fifa World Cup eight years from now.
In 1988, when the US was awarded the World Cup by Fifa for the first time, the losing country was Morocco.
Two decades later, Morocco, despite putting together an impressive bid, lost to the collective strength of United. Morocco can be proud of its strong effort.
Celebrations in the United camp, on the other hand, will have to occur under the shadow of the deep political cracks generated by US President Donald Trump.
Having antagonised Mexico and its people even before he became president, Mr Trump managed to alienate Canada recently by erecting new barriers to trade.
The past week has been full of ups and downs for the US president. The unprecedented criticism directed at him by G7 leaders after his attack on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was followed by an historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un – and the victory for United's bid, for which he lobbied Fifa's hierarchy, will once again put Mr Trump and his policies under the international spotlight.
How, for instance, are fans to reconcile the message of fraternity advanced by United when Mr Trump’s rhetoric and policies have caused divisions with Canada and Mexico?
Fifa bids have always been competitive and, in spite of the best intentions to quarantine football from politics, national rivalries bleed into it – and the pitch is seen as more than a sporting arena.
To some spectators, as George Orwell once put it, sport is “mimic warfare” and some nations regrettably tend to “work themselves into furies” over football.
This does a disservice to the beautiful game, which brings together people of every religion, from all corners of the world, in appreciation of the hard work, skill and talent of the players.
Mo Salah's fans, lest we forget, transcend national, racial and religious boundaries – and more than three billion people tuned in to watch the 2014 World Cup.
That sporting spirit of fellowship, invoked by United in its bid, is the best antidote to our petty rivalries.
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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MATCH INFO
Karnataka Tuskers 110-5 (10 ovs)
Tharanga 48, Shafiq 34, Rampaul 2-16
Delhi Bulls 91-8 (10 ovs)
Mathews 31, Rimmington 3-28
Karnataka Tuskers win by 19 runs
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
more from Janine di Giovanni
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
