When FIFA announced plans to scrap its continental rotation system, the move was widely interpreted as bad news for the USA's plans to host the 2018 World Cup, as North America was next in line to host the event after South America in 2014, which would have made the USA, Mexico and possibly, Canada, the only viable host candidates. Even so, USSoccerPlayers' Clemente Lisi says the USA could make a strong case for hosting the tournament despite the prospect of bidding against the likes of England and Australia.
CONCACAF and the USA might feel as though "the rug was pulled out from under them just when it was their turn," but FIFA really had to end the rotation policy. As the recent stadium disaster in Brazil shows -- Brazil was awarded the 2014 tournament less than a month ago -- there are only a handful of countries that have the economic means and infrastructure in place to host the world's biggest sporting event. Luckily for the Americans, the U.S. is one of them.
"After FIFA is done holding South Africa's hand in 2010 and Brazil's in 2014, they will be more than happy to entertain a bid from the United States," says Lisi. Indeed, preparing for the U.S. in 2018 would be a cakewalk compared to the massive project underway in South Africa and the one that awaits Brazil soon thereafter.
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