Head of US World Cup bid says he is not ruling 2018 out

CHICAGO — The United States isn't conceding the 2018 World Cup to Europe.

Despite the likelihood that FIFA will favour going back to Europe for that tournament, the head of the U.S. bid committee said Thursday it hasn't given up hope of hosting in 2018.

The United States is one of 11 countries that has formally declared its desire to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022; Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have submitted joint bids.

The World Cup will be in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014, the first time it has left Europe for consecutive tournaments.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already said there is a "general understanding" that Europe will play host in 2018, making 2022 a more realistic option for the United States.

"It may turn out to be that way," said David Downs, executive director of USA Bid Committee Inc. "If that would be the case, it would not bother us. But we're not giving up on 2018 by any stretch."

FIFA's executive committee will decide on both bids in December 2010. Eight of the 23 executive committee members are from Europe.

The United States has only hosted one World Cup, and the 1994 event drew a record 3.59 million fans. The 2018 or 2022 World Cup would be an even bigger success, Downs predicted, estimating ticket sales could easily reach five million.

Though soccer is far more popular in the United States than it was in 1994, there is still plenty of room for growth, Downs said.

"If hosting the World Cup would enfranchise more generations, that would impact the entire sport for years to come," Downs said.

Though the quality of play has improved in Major League Soccer, which started play in 1996, it still has a long way to go to rival top European leagues.

Blatter maintains the league needs to switch to a traditional soccer schedule that starts in August and ends in the spring, rather than its current format of starting in the spring and ending in the fall.

While Downs said he's "very proud" of the strides MLS has made, he knows the bid committee will have to find a way to let FIFA members know MLS is only a small portion of U.S. soccer culture.

There are people who don't have interest in going to an MLS game, but play on the weekends, follow the English Premier League or come out for a U.S. national team game.

"People care here, in enormous numbers," he said.

Downs has been visiting possible sites for a U.S. World Cup during the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The three-week tournament used 13 sites throughout the country, including the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

The U.S. bid will include 18 stadiums, and Downs expects there would be 12 to 14 sites for an American World Cup.

Though the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas have some of the older stadiums under consideration, Downs said he can't imagine a U.S. bid without games in California.

There has been talk of new arenas in both cities, and Downs said the bid committee will make clear to FIFA that changes could be made as stadiums are built or updated.

While some have questioned why FIFA is picking the 2018 and 2022 cities at the same time, Downs said he has no problem with it.

In fact, he's glad the United States is getting two shots.

"Given the amount of effort we have to put in for this bid, to know if we didn't get 2018 that we have a fighting chance for 2022 is extremely comforting," Downs said.

"It would be heartbreaking to not get 2018 and be told, 'Go away, don't come back for 20 years."'