3 June 2008
Warner to USSF: Don’t Bid on 2018, Bid on 2022
Posted by Drew Epperley under: CONCACAF; FIFA; World Cup .
Its been floating around for some time that FIFA wants to announce the next two World Cup host sites for 2018 and 2022 by the year 2011. Sure that means they have three years to figure it out but with countries like the US and England in the running for each it sort of makes it hard on where things should exactly go.
For one, FIFA has yet to enjoy the thought or the notion of having the World Cup out of Europe for more than two straight Cups. Should someone outside of Europe be granted the rights to the 2018 Cup, that would put Europe in a “drought” of 16 years, spanning three straight World Cups (2010 in South Africa, and 2014 in Brazil).
So FIFA vice president Jack Warner is urging the US Soccer Federation to not bid on the 2018 Cup so England can get the nod and instead bid on the 2022 Cup.
“I have to convince them not to bid,” Warner said in an interview to be aired Tuesday night by the British Broadcasting Corp. “It is easier for me to convince America to wait until 2022 … I have said to England that until America gets knocked out, that’s where my vote will have to go.”
Now there are other countries in the running but none near the level of England or the US. England for its history and the US because of the amount of money that can be made from it and the list of extensive large stadiums that can be used.
Its going to be an interesting couple of years here before FIFA comes to a decision. Both countries will more than likely be hosting a World Cup before too long (even though are a decade or more away). Its just interesting that people inside of FIFA are urging the US to put a hold on the 2018 bid so England can have it.
Ultimately I think the money will talk in this matter, and that edge could go to the US when it is all said and done. Another Cup in the US means a lot of big time money to be made for FIFA. The 1994 Cup is still the biggest money maker in FIFA history, so you know FIFA may not be able to turn away from the almighty dollar…or Euro.
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