MLS expansion is proof that US World Cup does have a legacy claims coach

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

September 11 – The expansion of Major League Soccer (MLS) illustrates the benefits of hosting a World Cup in the United States, the country’s coach Bob Bradley (pictured) has claimed.

Doubts were cast by the FIFA inspection team over the potential legacy of staging another World Cup in the US but Bradley has insisted that staging the tournament in 1994 has had a massive benefit for the country.

“I think quite frankly that people know the type of job that the US can do in running a World Cup,” he told the Chicagoist in an interview.

“1994 went really well and we’ve made so much progress since then.

“I think one of the big points that gets made over and over and over is that the first time around was really the start of many things – including the league [MLS] – and the opportunity years later to come back when the game has grown in so many ways, certainly at a time when the passion in the country for the national league and for the game itself is at a real high.

“I think that in all ways it just is exciting to think that this process is beginning and we’re a serious contender.

“I think the league has grown in so many ways.”

Bradley, who was recently given a contract extension until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, was part of the delegation that greeted the FIFA delegation in Washington DC earlier this week and is now preparing for the US friendly against Poland at Soldier Field in Chicago on October 9.

“You come here [Toyota Park, the home ground of MLS Chicago Fire] and as much as obviously I have really fond memories of everything at Soldier Field – the bottom line is that these new stadiums in the league have really meant a lot to MLS and show how far the game has come,” said Bradley.

“The way the different ownership groups have pushed hard to build stadiums, I think that’s been a real plus, and we continue to see more and more young Americans getting their start in professional soccer in MLS.

“When you look at the number of players that have played this summer in South Africa for our national team, so many of them began their careers here or still play here, so I think in those ways the work of the league and the people that have been here at all levels have directly impacted the success of the national team.”

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