According to today’s edition of the Washington Post, the US is set to launch a bid to bring either the 2014 or 2018 World Cup to America. My first reaction upon hearing this was, "well, we just hosted the Cup not that long ago." The math was a bit of a reality check, however, as it will have been 24 years since the ‘94 Cup if it indeed does come here in 2018. This nation is an obvious choice, as little to no infrastructure, transportation, or stadium work would need to be done to stage the matches here: contrast that with the struggles preparing the event in South Africa.
That being said, I don’t really like our chances as much in 2014. Recent trends have set the Cup in Europe every other time: Germany 06, Japan/Korea 02, France 98, USA 94, Italia 90, etc. Also, Brazil is launching a strong bid for 2014, and that nation with unparalleled Cup success hasn’t hosted the event since 1950.
The only negatives I can see in awarding WC 18 to America would be from outside detractors, who may cite a lack of "football culture" here in the States. But this country’s anti-soccer attitude has softened considerably since 94, and will likely continue. Unlike NASCAR, which has seen its ‘meteoric rise’ taper off, soccer participation and fandom is still growing in this nation at a fantastic rate. It certainly doesn’t hurt that WC 94 was the best attended Cup in history, either.
The 2018 host selection is likely 5 years off, so let’s hope US Soccer puts on a good show.
Read the whole story here. Thanks EG for the heads up.