US ready to concede defeat in 2018 World Cup campaign

By Andrew Warshaw

September 10 – The head of the United States bid to stage the World Cup admitted today that a growing number of FIFA’s 24 voting members favoured the 2018 tournament going to Europe.

But bid President Sunil Gulati said this did not mean his country would definitely drop out of the race and go the way of Australia and other rivals by concentrating solely on 2022.

“I acknowledge…that there is a sentiment with a number of the members of the exco that 2018 should be in Europe,” Gulati told a conference call.

“If at some point between now and [the vote on] December 2 we think it’s in our best interest to [withdraw], we would make that decision.

“We would certainly have the appropriate conversations with the Fifa and Uefa presidents at the right time.”

America’s baffling - some would say stubborn - policy of brinkmanship has fuelled speculation that a vote-bartering deal is almost certainly on the cards.

Both World Cups are being granted at the same time, giving all candidates the chance to jostle for covert last-minute support.

The next critical stage comes at the end of October when FIFA’s Executive Committee decides on the voting procedure.

“That’s when we expect to get clarification,” revealed Gulati.

Gulati, speaking 24 hours after the conclusion of FIFA’s whilwind five-city inspection tour, said he was not concerned by the closing statement of inspection team leader Harold Mayne-Nicholls (pictured left with Gulati) who hinted the US might have some convincing to do when it came to laying down an international legacy.

“The legacy of the World Cup in the United States has been extraordinary since 1994,” Gulati replied, not altogether convincingly.

“A World Cup in 2018 or 2022 would take it to overwhelming heights.”

The size of US stadiums and sight lines were other issues raised during the conference call, with Gulati quizzed over whether some of the pitches being earmarked for the World Cup conformed with FIFA requirements.

“We’ve assured them we will get to FIFA international dimensions,” he said.

“They understood that the quality of the playing surface at some of the venues are not what we would have at the World Cup.”

Asked what impact FIFA’s technical report could ultimately have on the thinking of the 24 Executive Committee members, Gulati replied: “Some will be very strong supporters of a country regardless; others will be influenced though to what degree I can’t predict.”

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