U.S. World Cup bid gets boost
By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010
Follow Martin Rogers on Twitter at @mrogersyahoo
JOHANNESBURG – The United States’ rollercoaster ride in South Africa might have given U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati mixed emotions but he is crystal clear on what he wants for the future of the sport.
(Getty Images)
Well before Landon Donovan thrilled a nation with his last-gasp winner against Algeria and the Americans’ hopes dwindled on a frustrating night against Ghana, Gulati started plotting to bring all the magic of the world’s greatest soccer event to American soil.
“The response to our run and the emotions and excitement that surrounded it reached a whole new audience and a new level,” Gulati said in an exclusive interview with Yahoo! Sports. “Now we want to give those people something else to be excited about, to make them realize there is the chance we could have all that in our own backyard.”
Soccer’s governing body FIFA will conduct a bidding process in December in which nations will apply for the right to host the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Events over the last few days have increased the possibility of the USA being awarded staging rights for the second time after a successful 1994 tournament.
That is due to revelations about the rival Australian bid, which was rocked on Wednesday by newspaper claims that it had conducted controversial financial practices including lavishing gifts on FIFA delegates and paying exorbitant sums to soccer lobbyists.
While it is widely expected that a European nation will be awarded the 2018 World Cup (Russia, England and Spain are the leading candidates), 2022 is shaping up as a fight between the U.S. and Australia with Qatar, South Korea and Japan as longshots.
“I think we have the best bid,” Gulati said. “We have a lot to offer and would run a fantastic World Cup. We talk a lot about our stadiums and infrastructure, which is a real positive.
“But what this World Cup shows is that there is a passion for the game and that the country would get right behind it. Furthermore, we have such wonderful diversity in the United States, that every team would enjoy phenomenal support.”
Gulati’s emotions mirror that of many USA fans. He was delighted with the team’s progression as the winner of Group C but was disappointed with the extra-time defeat to Ghana in the last 16. With the draw having opened up, the chance of a deep run was tantalizingly close but snatched away.
Support for the U.S. team reached unprecedented levels as television ratings surged, yet a run to the quarterfinal would have provided even more opportunity to engage a new audience.
When asked if the tournament was an opportunity taken or an opportunity lost, Gulati replied: “I think it is a little bit of both.”
“Of course the first goal is to get through the group stage because without that, nothing else is possible,” he continued. “But then once you get there and have a game you feel you can win, and don’t, it is disappointing.
“Yet there are some real signs of progress. We are getting to the point now where we are reaching the knockout stage of World Cups and going into games as the favorites. Considering where we were 20 years ago, that is huge.
“We are respected. No one goes into games against us thinking they are going to get an easy game.”
One of the items on Gulati’s agenda is the future of Bob Bradley. Early indications are that the head coach is not going anywhere soon.
“I would expect Bob will be in charge against Brazil,” said Gulati referring to an exhibition game against the five-time World Cup winner on Aug. 11 at New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey.