FIFA so far has said the hosting of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and 2022 tournament in Qatar will continue as per schedule, but with the current situation deemed volatile, that could change. For the nations to be stripped of their hosting rights, widespread corruption throughout the original bidding process must be found by the Swiss authorities investigating such allegations. Qatar's bid in particular has been clouded by allegations of bribery since they won the vote in December 2010, however those claims came largely, if not entirely, from media reports rather than police. If the investigations led to convictions on corruption charges, not even FIFA could whitewash that.

Would Australia bid again for the 2022 World Cup if the vote was reopened?

For years the Football Federation of Australia has maintained they would seriously contemplate bidding again for the World Cup despite gaining just one vote from a possible 22 in the original process. Should Qatar be stripped of its hosting rights and votes reopened, Australia would have about seven years to prepare to host the world's biggest event, but would expect strong competition from the US. The US is the nation best prepared to host a tournament in such short notice given their stadia and infrastructure and at one point in the voting process appeared favourites to win the 2022 World Cup hosting rights.

Does it matter who the president is?

It is no secret that hopes of a revote would be boosted if Sepp Blatter was not president. Should either Qatar or Russia be found guilty of corruption in the voting process for the World Cup bids, Blatter's rival Prince Ali Al-Hussein appears the more likely to bring about change, although Blatter may be forced to reopen the vote to save his own image.

Which countries would bid in such event?

It would be safe to say that the US, England and Australia would resubmit bids for 2018 and 2022 after their failure in the first round as well as the hostile treatment they received from many senior FIFA executives in the wake of Russia and Qatar's victories. The Americans would feel justified in being awarded the 2022 World Cup given the work of the FBI in exposing corruption though their chances hinge on the Swiss police's findings of corruption on the Qatar bid. Already Mexico, Colombia, Canada and Morocco have expressed interest in hosting the 2026 World Cup and may fast-track their applications.

Will Russia and Qatar have any course to appeal?

If they are found to have been corrupt in their behaviour in the initial voting process and are stripped of their rights to host the tournament, expect neither to surrender quietly. Russia has already built stadiums and will be ready to go but have not been nearly as heavily embroiled in corruption scandals as Qatar. The tiny Gulf state has begun construction early resulting in the deaths of nearly 1000 migrant labourers working in horrendous conditions. Any appeal will likely go through the international Court of Arbitration for Sport.