Brazil's "troubled build-up" for the 2014 World Cup "takes centre stage again this week," but there are a number of other global issues facing FIFA chiefs as they head to Salvador, Brazil, for a series of meetings ahead of Friday's World Cup draw, according to Andrew Warshaw of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. After weeks of headlines regarding Qatar's so-called kafala employment system, FIFA's top brass "will discuss the latest information from Qatar about the human rights issues." There will also be discussion about switching the 2022 World Cup from summer to winter though "no firm decision of timings will be taken until the middle of next year at the earliest." Another key debate will be "the contentious issue of trying to broker a deal that satisfies both Kosovo and Serbia so that the former can be given greater international playing rights" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 12/2).
U20 WORLD CUP: YONHAP reported the government announced that "it will send a delegation to Brazil to support South Korea's bid to host FIFA's signature youth competition." The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that Vice Minister in charge of affairs Kim Chong "will lead the delegation to Brazil," where FIFA's Exec Committee will determine the host of the 2017 U20 World Cup on Thursday. The ministry said that South Korea will "be in the running with a dozen countries," including Azerbaijan, Mexico, France and Ukraine (YONHAP, 12/2).
