Posted on 12/19/2017 8:04:25 AM PST by Trump20162020
The North American bid to stage the 2026 World Cup seems like a sure thing. From stadiums and infrastructure to commercial opportunities and organizational experience, the joint effort by the United States, Mexico and Canada appears to meet all the necessary requirements (and then some) to host soccer’s premier competition.
The proposal would mesh more than a half-billion people from three countries that have put on 12 FIFA tournaments (men and women, senior and youth). With European and Asian countries ineligible to bid and South America waiting for 2030, the only challenger is Morocco, a country of similar size and population to California.
No contest, right? Not so fast.
As the sides finalize their bids ahead of the March 16 deadline, there is growing concern in some U.S. circles that a North American victory celebration after the FIFA vote June 13 in Moscow is not as certain as once thought.
Behind the scenes, those familiar with the tri-nation effort are worried many FIFA member countries — and, by extension, continental voting blocs — are leaning toward Morocco.
Rather, they stem from a precipitous decline in U.S. popularity around the world and, to a smaller extent, the fact that the American judicial system took the lead in prosecuting FIFA scandals. While the exposure of misconduct has helped cleanse the sport’s tarnished international governing body, some in world soccer apparently aren’t happy with the U.S. government’s aggressive role.
The inclusion of Mexico and Canada should broaden the bid’s appeal. Of the 80 matches, 60 would take place in U.S. venues and 10 apiece in the other two countries. The 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 teams, an increase of 16.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
If soccer fans don’t want to come to a World Cup here, can we ban soccer altogether? It seems like a lot of illegal immigrants who come here are soccer fans, too. Maybe that will discourage them?
Their facial expressions remind me of the Hillary! supporters’ toward the end of election night. Makes me smile.
Morocco would be great
98% muslim
Bastion of human rights
Much of its male population trying to claim refugee status in europe
Sounds like a popular nation
What could ge wrong
Great points.
You were fine until the last sentence. If that was a general rule here there would be no here here.
El Clasico SUn @7am. I feel for anyone that cheats themselves out of witnessing the genius of Leo Messi.
https://youtu.be/FxiAnkeE_3o
He is remarkable.
...and I’m fortunate enough to be a Leicester City fan, still smiling from the magical season that will never happen again.
I think the mocking of soccer stems from having it forced down our throats, similar to low flush toilets and crappy CFL light bulbs.
I hear ya!
As a soccer fan, I’m astounded by the ignorance of the sport that Americans have. It also makes it easier for me to root against “Team USA” whenever they play miserably against a third tier team like Trindad & Tobago.
I think most FReepers are cheap beer can drinking, couch-sitting blowhards well over the hill who cannot even fathom a sport being more popular than gridiron American football. That mentality is quickly fading away with the younger and more impatient youth that is filling up soccer stadiums. Try making them watch a 4 hour American football game?
And I second your opinion of Baseball. To each his own.
This article is pure rubbish, made up by somebody who just wants to invent more crap to try to make Trump look bad.
And why did they sack Claudio?
SMH....will never understand that.
I’m guilty of not reading it. I’m sure you remember how everybody loved the US in 1994 because we had Al Gore at the WC Final and Billy boy as President.
Same reason to hate America now and deny us the hosting rights - Trump.
...it’s also seemingly curious, those that hate soccer love baseball. They don’t go to the *packed* bars during the world cup and witness their national team being supported - seeing the red, white, and blue everywhere. Besides ice hockey, there’s no other team sport that gets such support across this country, most American sports only have the support of people for a certain city - then declare themselves “world champions”.
Yeah, the whole Claudio thing was wrong. He is a living legend to LCFC fans....and during the very next season too :(
I’m a Tottenham fan myself, because of Mauricio Pochettino - but I’ve always considered Ranieri to be among the best managers in the sport. I was actually thrilled LC won the Premier League.
I’m thrilled so far with what Allardyce is doing at Everton, we were headed for relegation before he came in.
Everton has had about 7 managers in the last 5 years.
Hard to compete when you change so often.
Qatar is more popular?>
There’s nothing less exciting than a sport where the hands are excluded from the athletic act.
And I should care about a sport where grown men are kicking a ball in silly looking uniforms? If America is tanking in the views of Globalists, it is another win.
A short attention span is nothing to brag about.
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