Football
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Melbourne keen to host World Cup 2022 games should Qatar miss out

Melbourne is ready to help Australia stage the 2022 World Cup should Qatar be stripped of its right to host the tournament.

Speculation has been mounting that Qatar will miss out on the competition, with FIFA executive board member Theo Zwanziger stating that he believes it will take place elsewhere due to the health risks for players and fans in the extreme heat of the Gulf State.

"Personally, I believe that the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar in the end," he told Sport Bild.

Qatar organisers, however, dismissed Zwanziger's comments, insisting there's no prospect of the nation losing the 2022 World Cup.

A spokesman for Victoria, Australia's sport minister Damian Drum, though, has said that Melbourne -- the capital of Victoria -- is "happy to chat" to FIFA about hosting matches should the country be called upon to take over hosting duties.

Lord Mayor of Melbourne Robert Doyle, meanwhile, has said the city could host the tournament at "a moment's notice."

"We would do a World Cup brilliantly," Doyle is quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

Australia were one of the original bidders for the 2022 World Cup, but were knocked out in the first round of voting.

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