It involves global intrigue, a bitter clash among some of the world's leading powers, even a whiff of financial scandal. A spy incident or the latest trade war? No, it's just one of the world's biggest sports competitions - one not even played on a field but in a proverbial smoke-filled room in Zurich. That's where the 22 representatives from FIFA - the world soccer organization - will gather from all over the world in a little over a week to decide who gets to host the 2018 and 2022 soccer World Cups. (Brazil already has 2014.)

"December 2 is going to be an important day, not just for football but for international politics," says FIFA head Sepp Blatter, and for once he's right. "We have nine bids and they will send prime ministers, heads of government, and high-ranking...