Comments on: USA’s bid to host World Cup 2018

By: Don Camillo

Don Camillo — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:19:04 +0000

Being German living in the US I have been to the ‘94 wc in the US (and every other world cup since 1982 too). I liked the ‘94 wc here at the time because it was easy to attend and quite affordable and I could see more games than in any other wc. There was such a great spirit of welcome everywhere that every country could feel like having home games

But aside from the games it was rather boring. While there is a lot of entusiasm for football in the US it is pretty hard for such a large country to recreate the intimate carnival atmosphere of Korea or Germany where the wc dominated public life for an entire month. There is so much else going on here and besides, it would be unthinkable having millions of people partying in the streets all night in the US. We don’t have much of a party culture outside maybe New Orleans and Miami and the visitors would just be mostly by themselves.

Attending a wc is about so much more than just watching games. 2006 was an experience of a lifetime with a transformational power like no other event I have been to. I think everybody who attended 2006 will always remember it.

When I think of what places could recreate that experience then Brazil, England and Australia come to my mind first. I will be in Brazil in 2014 and I sincerely hope England & Australia will be the places for 2018 & 2022.

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:15:00 +0000

One more point:

The article says that football (yes, our soccer…) is very unpopular, which is just ignorant. In fact, ESPN (our Sky Sports) purchased the television rights to Euro 2008 and the ratings were off the chart - showing that football is, in fact, popular in the States.

Popularity has grown exponentially in the 12 years since MLS was formed in 1996, and is really quite amazing when you consider that when we hosted in 94, no one…NO ONE…cared about football in this country. So it is rather unfair to write off the USA bid due to perceived unpopularity.

That said…if we don’t get it, I hope England does.

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:05:18 +0000

Full disclosure, I’m an American…here we go:

USA ‘94 is the most successful World Cup in history in terms of attendance and revenue. The popularity of the game here is growing exponentially, and we are one of the most diverse nations in the world. We also have many new/recently renovated stadiums that would serve as excellent grounds for football matches. In fact, many of our professional teams play in American football stadiums (even though they can’t fill them…unless Becks is in town) and they work seamlessly.

England would be a very good host for 2018, but if there’s anyone who’s bid would be just as good, it’s the States.

By: Kasbah

Kasbah — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:07:57 +0000

england disappoints world cup after world cup, but the USA tries, has a strong squad (stronger than englands?) and growing support, and so they deserve the world cup? last time i checked we still out-performed the USA in the last 3 world cups!

By: Cathal

Cathal — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 04:05:51 +0000

USA deserves the Word Cup. Ireland should bid but we do not have the right amount of large capacity stadiums. England disappoints World Cup after World Cup, the USA tries, support is growing, they have a strong squad, and they have everything going for them. England does not deserve it.

By: Juice

Juice — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:13:41 +0000

Most profitable WC ever… and that was before they let in 32 teams. It will have been 20+ years by the time 2018 rolls around and if FIFA is in the buisness of making money and progressing the sport as far as they can, they should choose the US.

By: prakash

prakash — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:59:04 +0000

1994 the organisers did a great job, but i really feel the italians deserved to win the cup. the italians played their semi final fixture in new york. the brazilians played in los anges,
the time zone comes into factor. the italians flew from ny to la to play in the finals in pacific time zone.
thats how the italians lost the final.
not to a baggios penalty miss.
the american organisers screwed things up for the italians job:)

By: prakash

prakash — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:32:34 +0000

the united states should consider to host womens world cup or even the youth world cup. are the americans really in to football? if the world cup comes to europe better still england, can the americans keep the whole country alive like what the germans did in 2006? football really must come home to england