Obama urges FIFA to deliver U.S. World Cup

CNN ^ | 7-28-2009 | CNN

[UCFRoadWarrior]

I would love to see the US host the WC again. I went to the matches in 1994 and it was awesome....better than the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

I think soccer has not taken off in America...at least on a pro level...is that most Americans who play are usually middle-class and upper middle class kids....when they go to a pro game in the US (esp MLS) its like going to a Third World country.

Anyone who has been to a Mexico-USA national team soccer match knows what I am talking about....some of the disgusting things the Mexicans have done upon the US team and fans.

Although I think the US has a chance to host the 2018 or 2022 WC, I think Canada will get the WC instead. They have never hosted it, and, could really use the WC to boost their national soccer programs (actually more youth play soccer than hockey in Canada)

[dimk]

Canada is not really ready, CSA(Canadian soccer association) is run but a bunch of completely incompetent fools. Some of the best players refuse to play for the team because of how it is being ran. It really is depressing, since the game is very popular in Canada. By participation it beats hockey by a fair margin and Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver pro teams actually fill their stadiums. Montreal got like 60k people to come to the CONCACAF champion league semifinal. Youth world cup had I think twice more spectators in Canada then any other youth World cup in history too ( no matter that Canadian team could not manage to score a SINGLE goal in the whole tournament!)

[LuvFreeRepublic]

I never said that the World Cup changed the popularity of the sport here. I never said I have a concern that the sport doesn’t appeal to some Americans. I never said anything about its lack of popularity or that it may or may not ever be popular. I commented on, from a personal perspective, the thrill of being a spectator during the World Cup and my observations that the fans that do enjoy the sport, loved the World Cup. The World Cup was also a phenomenal success from an economic perspective. There is absolutely no question that the World Cup, regardless of where it is held, is enjoyed by soccer fans. And speaking from a personal perspective, soccer fans enjoyed the heck out of the the games during the Olympics.

I don’t advocate one sport over another and with the exception of watching grass grow (golf), I don’t cut down another sport.

And FYI, I loved the heck out of watching Wayne Gretzky when he was with the LA Kings. Absolutely incredible hockey player and a true joy to watch.

[discostu]

I never said you said any of those things. The story is that Obama is trying to convince FIFA to hold the World Cup here under the “logic” that it would improve the sport’s popularity in America. The fact that we already had the World Cup here and it didn’t improve the popularity is my comment on it.

[LuvFreeRepublic]

Yes, UCFRoadWarrior, I have been to some of “those” USA - Mexico games. But I will have you know that I went to one game, where in the beginning it was the typical BS from the Mexican team and fans, but by the end of the game something truly amazing occurred. The Mexico fans actually applauded good plays by the US team and booed cheap shots by the Mexico team. Never did I see such a thing before, and never have I seen it again.

Go here:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=456503441&albumId=458191

Assuming the link works (I'm new), look at my picture and you will see why I was at that game. One of my most memorable moments from my playing days.

[Cindy]

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Readout-of-the-Presidents-Meeting-with-FIFA-President-Joseph-Blatter/

THE BRIEFING ROOM

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2009

Readout of the President’s Meeting with FIFA President Joseph Blatter

The President welcomed FIFA President Blatter to the White House and urged Mr. Blatter to give strong consideration to the US bid to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. During the half-hour meeting in the Oval Office, President Obama complimented FIFA on their efforts to incorporate community service, education and public health projects into their plans for staging the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. President Obama thanked Mr. Blatter for inviting him to attend next year’s event and said he hoped his schedule would allow him to do so. The President also thanked Mr. Blatter for the soccer balls that he brought with him as gift for the President’s soccer-playing daughters.

[Prole]

Soccer is big in Kenya.