April 13 – The head of the United States Soccer Federation says handing the 2026 World Cup to his country would not only give the sport a further boost but also allow FIFA to put its flagship event back on safe territory in terms of its international image.
FIFA executive committee member Sunil Gulati, whose country lost out to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, has repeatedly pushed for more openness and transparency when it comes to selecting future World Cup hosts.
He says no firm decision has yet been made about another bid but acknowledges staging the World Cup for the first time since 1994 would make sense – and not just for the United States.
“It’s probably now at least as important for the international community to be in the United States as it is for the United States, in terms of hosting the World Cup,” said Gulati.
“That’s my honest belief. It’s as important for the global game and everything we’ve been talking about today, and keeping that brand, whether it’s the brand of four letters or the brand of World Cup, where we would all like it to be.”
Gulati made his remarks during a discussion about the growth of soccer at the IMG World Congress of Sports in Los Angeles.
Many in CONCACAF are still smarting at losing out to Qatar, especially as the United States were given a far higher rating in the official technical inspection report. Gulati, who has been in charge of US soccer since March 2006, has said in the past that the US will not bid again for the World Cup until the bidding process is overhauled.
Although soccer still lags behind the traditional US sports when it comes to wages and television contracts, its growth has been immense especially among young Americans.
Gulati said his organization was “still reviewing what the procedures are” for submitting a bid for 2026, the host for which will be chosen in 2017.
“We’re not the only ones that can do it, but we’d put on a spectacular event, and people know that,” said Gulati.
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