Can the US host the World Cup in 2014 or 2018?

[SoccerPrime]

Can the US host the World Cup in 2014 or 2018?

To help this discussion, I have created a map showing only the newest NFL, possible soccer/World Cup friendly stadiums in the USA.

Germany WC 06 has 12 venues, I have 18 stadiums on this map.



Main problems with this criteria is no games in California or NYC area.

[montgjules]

So you don't think they'd play games at the Soccer Specific Stadia? I can't imagine them hosting the World Cup and not playing a couple games at the HDC.

That would be awesome to bring the World Cup back here...

[Jose Luis Luviano]

I have to imagine that WC 2014 will be in Europe somewhere. There have never been 2 consecutive world cups held outside of Europe.

[SoccerPrime]

MLS's Soccer-specific stadiums have at most 27,000 capacity (CRapids stadium is 18k I think).

Since the average attendance at the WC 1994 (USA) was 67,000 I doubt they would to book any of the WC matches at the "small" Soccer-specific stadiums (unless they had a diabolical scheme to charge $1,000 per ticket).

[SoccerPrime]

Originally Posted by Jose Luis Luviano

I have to imagine that WC 2014 will be in Europe somewhere. There have never been 2 consecutive world cups held outside of Europe.

I would probably agree with you, thats why I stated "or 2018" in the question.

I think USA can host a WC, anytime. Most likely not until 2018.

Another thing against USA hosting is that the Olympics might be here in 2016...

[Jose Luis Luviano]

If I remember correctly, the smallest crowd at WC '94 was 40,000 or something like that. But they had sold more tickets than that but some people didn't show up because it was noon the Cotton Bowl or the Citrus Bowl or some place like that.

So if we host, I think that it will be in Pointyball stadiums.

Rice Eccles, being close to an airport, a Downtown and public transportation would definitely have an edge.

[SoccerPrime]

I would think natural grass surfaces would have a edge over artifical ones.

Of course, I don't know the breakdown in the NFL stadiums, which ones are turf and which ones are natural grass.

[rabble-rabble]

Curious, what changes (to requirements or the stadium) make the Rose Bowl no longer a valid option? The place is HUGE, but its shape is admittedly not suited for the best sight lines for parts of the venue.

Oops, I just saw the part about NEWEST stadiums which would seem to rule out Pasadena.

[SoccerPrime]

Yeah, my logic in making the map (and it could be way off) is that the NFL has built many new large capacity stadiums recently. These stadiums not only offer updated amenities for fans and for management, but also are built with Int'l soccer in mind.

In that view, I figured even newer college football stadiums, although nicer than older ones were not built with soccer in mind.

Thus, if FIFA chose the USA for a WC, they would want to use the plethora of nice, new NFL stadiums over nice, new college ones.

However, I might add that someone on BS told me that they are rebuilding the Rose Bowl soon, so perhaps that would change.

[AreliusIV]

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

the NFL has built many new large capacity stadiums recently. These stadiums not only offer updated amenities for fans and for management, but also are built with Int'l soccer in mind.

They are?...