[ZURICH COUNTDOWN] The races for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are utterly complex with political forces conspiring to make the outcomes of both impossible topredict. Six, maybe seven, of the nine contenders have a legitimate shot of winning the right to host one of the two World Cups up for grabs. A few numbers […]
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Cutting it close?
[ZURICH COUNTDOWN] As the countdown to Thursday’s vote by FIFA’s executive committee on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Zurich continues, SoccerAmerica spotlights the latest developments … Cutting it close? Former President Bill Clinton will lead theU.S. delegation that will present its case for the 2022 World Cup to the FIFA […]
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Clinton: four reasons for USA '22
[WORLD CUP 2018/22 BIDS] Former President Bill Clinton, who will lead the U.S. delegation that will made itspresentation to the FIFA executive committee next week, sets out his case for USA ’22 … In an essay that appears online at si.com, Clinton 1. Thelevel of enthusiasm for the game has never been greater across America, […]
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Spain bid chief: 'All the fish is sold'
The Spain/Portugal World Cup 2018 bid committee hopes that Real Madrid stars Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo willbe released to join it in attending the Dec. 2 vote in Zurich on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Spain/Portugal bid committee chief executive Miguel Angel Lopez hopes that Real’s Portuguese coach, Jose Mourinho, […]
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Bin Hammam: 'Forgetfulness is bliss'
[WORLD CUP 2018/22 BIDS] Qatari Mohamed Bin Hammam, the Asian soccer confederation president, responded to criticismthat his country, bidding to host the 2022 World Cup, is too hot in the summer by saying the everyone forgets just how hot it was at USA ’94. Bin Hammam’s response to fellow FIFAexecutive committee member Chuck Blazer‘s criticism […]
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South Korea angles for support as 2022 unity candidate
FIFA vice president Chung Mong Joon hopes rally support in Asia for South Korea as the unity candidate to defeat the United States in the campaign to hostthe 2022 World Cup. Chung plans to fly to Kuala Lumpur on Monday to seek the backing of the Asian Football Confederation, whose president Mohamed BinHammam will support […]
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U.S. women's great journey began in Italy
[HISTORY] The U.S. women’s national team’s trip to Italy for the playoffs series that will determine the final berth in the 2011 Women’s World Cup begins backmemories of the women’s national team’s launch that began a quarter century ago with an invitation to travel to Italy. As Chuck Blazer told Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla in […]
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Congress passes resolution supporting U.S. effort
[WORLD CUP 2018/22 BIDS] The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution of support to the U.S. World Cup 2022 bid. The passage comes thesame day FIFA labeled the USA a “medium legal risk” to host the 2022 World Cup because of its concerns about government support. USA Bid Committee executive director David Downs said […]
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Inspectors issue U.S. report
[WORLD CUP 2018/22 BIDS] In a largely favorable report, FIFA nevertheless labeled the USA a “medium legal risk” to host the 2022 World Cup because “thenecessary government support has not been documented.” It is the only serious contender for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup to not have such government support. (Click here for the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA executives were warned about fake lobbyists
This will be the week when FIFA’s ethics committee will rule on the cases of FIFA executive committee members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii, suspended after being caught on videotape talking about support for soccer projects in return for their votes on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Many in FIFA circles […]