[EvilRick]

I just heard a news wire. It claimed that a powerful
American business man With strong ties to the MLS
and the USSF wants the USA to host the next WC
hex In its entirety and is lobbying the USSF to
propose the plan to CONCACA.

This has already happened before, T&T hosted the
last WQ leg for WC82 and it wasn’t Pretty. I don’t
think the other federations would want to give
away their home field advantage along with their
profit, but there is a Jack Ass at the helm and with
a big enough bribe, this could happen

[thurd]

this maybe have anything to do with phil anshutz (sp?) trying to buy the tv rights?

[CanuckFan2]

I think Canada will be quite happy to play their home matches on Canadian soil, assuming we make the hex this time. And I can't imagine Mexico wanting to leave Azteca. What national association is going to want to hand over their home field advantage?

[Davids26]

As an American, you would think I'd like this idea. But half the fun of qualifiers is going to places that you aren't wanted. It prepares you for bigger competition. Having it all in the US would be terrible, and I hate this idea.

[Captain Canuck]

Originally posted by EvilRick
I just heard a news wire. It claimed that a powerful
American business man With strong ties to the MLS
and the USSF wants the USA to host the next WC
hex In its entirety and is lobbying the USSF to
propose the plan to CONCACA.

This has already happened before, T&T hosted the
last WQ leg for WC82 and it wasn’t Pretty. I don’t
think the other federations would want to give
away their home field advantage along with their
profit, but there is a Jack Ass at the helm and with
a big enough bribe, this could happen

Actually it was Honduras who held the entire 1982 Hex - to no one's surprise they won the group, with El Salvador finishing second & Canada tied for 3rd place a point out, eliminated frustratingly by because of a 2-2 draw with Cuba (had they won they would have gone instead of El Salvador - they had to wait another 4 years to get in). In 1978 the final round was hosted by Mexico & surprise, surprise, they got the only spot available to Concacaf. Whoever hosts would have an incredible advantage.

Having the US host the Gold Cup every year & the final round of qualifying for the World Cup would be a bit much methinks - but having said that I bet Canada would prefer playing its away games in the US than in Mexico or Central America, since the majority of Canada's players are used to playing in much colder climates. However, I doubt Canada will have much say in the matter, whatever happens.

[JG]

And then there was the final round of WC74 qualifying played entirely in Haiti, where the Haitians qualified after defeating Trinidad 2-1...a match where the Trinis had 4 goals disallowed.

The 82 final must have been wonderful soccer, El Salvador qualifying despite scoring just 2 goals in 5 matches.

Staging the hex in one country would be a huge step backwards.

[Various Styles]

If the HEX was held entirely in U.S soil, the USMNT would not have Home field Advantage

[DoyleG]

Just about as dumb as CAF with their qualifying proposal.

At least CAF had the sense to drop it.

[Eric B]

Originally posted by Various Styles
If the HEX was held entirely in U.S soil, the USMNT would not have Home field Advantage

I guess you didn't make it to Columbus, OH, on 2/28/01?

Plus, (and I haven't checked other threads yet, so this may have been addressed) Uncle Phil might only want to buy the international TV rights to the Hex, and then sell them off to the various countries, like Inter-Forever used to do with the CA nations and Canada during the '97 and '01 hexes.

[speedcake]

this is dumb. Does it require a more intelligent reply than that from me?

oh, ok...It's totally freakin' retarded and would undermine the value of playing home and away.

there.