Exclusive: US World Cup bid will benefit from Asian split predicts Gulati

By Andrew Warshaw

June 1 – Sunil Gulati (pictured left), the man leading the United States’ bid to host the World Cup, believes that going up against four Asian contenders for 2022 will work in favour of his country – rather than against it.

The US have not publicly shown their hand in terms of concentrating on 2022 rather than 2018 but are widely expected to focus on the later event in the months leading up to the vote on December 2.

And if that is the case, says Gulati, the US will have a distinct advantage in terms of acquiring the required 13 votes over the four Asian candidates – Australia, Qatar, South Korea and Japan - because of potential split loyalties.

“There are some strong competitors from Asia but we feel we offer FIFA an extraordinary opportunity commercially and soccer-wise,” said Gulati, President of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

“Not only that.

“We wouldn’t have a problem with four against one because as the only candidate from CONCACAF, we are the only ones who can say we have the full support of our confederation.”

Gulati says he knew from the outset that 2018 was almost certainly destined for Europe.

He is banking on the hope that FIFA will want to award 2022 to a country not only with a strong infrastructure but where growth opportunity is at its highest.

Australia could argue they can match the US on both those counts but American officials privately believe a split Asian vote could scupper the Australians.

Lobbying is expected to intensify next week at the FIFA Congress in Johannesburg prior to the start of the World Cup in South Africa.

“We have had discussions with FIFA ExCo (Executive Committee) members and so far, no one has asked us to drop out of 2018,” said Gulati.

“But I knew from the first day, long before it became public wisdom, that there were a number of people within FIFA who would prefer to have the World Cup in Europe in 2018.”

Gulati rejects those who believe the US do not deserve a second opportunity so close to 1994 when they last hosted the tournament – which was won by Brazil (pictured), beating Italy in the Final on penalties - despite little footballing pedigree.

“Look at what we’ve done since - a new league, two women’s World Cups.

“I was at game recently with 77,000 people - for a friendly.

“American fans are number one ticket buyers for South Africa this month.

“And the average capacity of our stadiums if we get the World Cup would be 76,000.

“The message that should send out is that we have phenomenal facilities.”

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