[DjDomino]

(Aug 16) EDMONTON (CP) - Canada could have a shot at 2014 World Cup of soccer if it teamed up with the United States to co-host the event, CONCACAF president Jack Warner said Friday.

"Based on what we've seen, I don't see why we can't have a co-hosting between Canada and the United States or some such combination," said Warner, who was in Edmonton to kick off the inaugural world women's under-19 soccer championship. The CONCACAF federation covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Warner, who is also chairman of the world under-19 championship, said this region of the world is ready to host World Cup.

He noted that the 2006 World Cup is set for Germany and 2010 World Cup is likely to be held in Africa.

The economic climate in South America has likely taken it out of the running for 2010 so that event will likely land in North America - either Canada, United States or Mexico or some combination of the three, he said.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, speaking at the Asian Football Conference annual congress in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week, launched speculation that the World Cup was coming west when he said that after 2010 the tournament might go "somewhere in the Americas."

Japan and South Korea jointly hosted this year's World Cup.

"Canada has already indicated its interest in hosting a future World Cup," said Jim Fleming, Canada's national organizing chairman and former president of the Canadian Soccer Association. "That offer was extended after consultation with the government of Canada. There are ongoing discussions about putting together the blueprint."

Fleming said organizers had been talking to the federal government about submitting a bid for the 2010 event, but will now likely focus on 2014.

"I think given the fact that Mexico had it twice and the United States had it once, it's our turn," he said.

Paul DeVillers, federal secretary of state for sport, confirmed that Ottawa is behind the bid.

"We've been having discussions and we're working on that together," he said.

Fleming said initial discussions involved Canada making a bid for the event on its own, but a joint bid is a possibility.

"If it took a co-hosting type of arrangement, I think we'd be interested in pursuing that," he said.

He said it would be easier logistically than the event staged in Korea and Japan because Canada and the U.S. share a border and the governments and soccer federations have a good working relationship with each other.

Fleming said Canada would need $10 million to host the event and upgrade the country's Canadian Football League stadia to FIFA football standards.

He said Canada would need a minimum of nine facilities to host the event.

Canada's national soccer team has only qualified to compete in the World Cup once. It has yet to score a goal in a World Cup game.


But Warner told reporters that CONCACAF will lobby intensely to boost the number of World Cup berths from the region from three to four in the upcoming tournament - a move that would give Canada a better chance at qualifying for the tournament.

He said he will make that pitch in Madrid, Spain, in December.

"We will ask for four spots as a right because we have demonstrated on the field of play our competence," he explained.

He said CONCACAF teams have improved to the point where the U.S. and Mexico are ranked among the top 10 teams in the world.

"We will ask for four spots and believe me we will fight to the end and give it all we've got because we deserve it."
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[SocrStopr13]

I'm for a Canada-US co-hosting the 2010 or 2014 world cup. I've also heard that Africa might drop out of hosting the 2010 world cup. If so maybe a Canada-US co-host bid could step in. That would also do a lot to help soccer progress in Canada too.

[CalgaryMJ]

Itjink at this point it would probably be best to plan for the 2014 WC as a solo host. As we get a little closer to the deadline for an actual submission if it doesn't look like a go, approach the US about co-hosting at that point. I don't think the CSA should go in from the start planning to have to do it with a partner, but keep it as an open possibility.

[DoyleG]

Originally posted by CalgaryMJ
Itjink at this point it would probably be best to plan for the 2014 WC as a solo host. As we get a little closer to the deadline for an actual submission if it doesn't look like a go, approach the US about co-hosting at that point. I don't think the CSA should go in from the start planning to have to do it with a partner, but keep it as an open possibility.

I agree with that point.

The real reason for the 2002 WC being jointly hosted was historical. It was figured that the first WC in Asia should be joint hosted. If they had been given that leeway, it could have gone to one host.

The US starts at the back sicne it would be only 20 years since the US repeated as host. France waited 60 years to host again. Italay waited 56 years.

Germany will host it's first WC as a unified nation.

[SJJ]

Originally posted by DjDomino (quoting the article)

He (Fleming) said it would be easier logistically than the event staged in Korea and Japan because Canada and the U.S. share a border and the governments and soccer federations have a good working relationship with each other.

OK, so how do the USSF and CSA have a good working relationship? This angle really needs to be discussed if the co-hosting idea gets off the ground.

[DoyleG]

Originally posted by SJJ


OK, so how do the USSF and CSA have a good working relationship? This angle really needs to be discussed if the co-hosting idea gets off the ground.

The co-hosting was more of Jack Warner's idea. Things might change now given that there is a new CSA Presiddent: Andy Sharpe.

[sslazio_1900]

personally Id love to see Canada host the world cup by themselves.
But We just dont have the infrastructure at this point.
Think of all the millions it would take to build new stadiums and/or refurbish all the CFL barns across Canada.
Who'd pay for it?
the municipal, the province or the feds?
Just try to get those Clowns on the same page

I mean thank god for commonwealth stadium, Canada's only venue that's suitable to host a world class soccer event

In short a combined US-Canada event makes a lot of sense

[holgers_heroes]

It woul be worth it just so we get to play in the tournament. I'd have no problem with a 70/30 split between the American/Canadian venues. Just have the Canadian venues spread out (maybe Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal) so it's accessible to all.

[Khansingh]

Exactly my point. Use four Canadian venues: BC Place, Commonwealth, Skydome, and le Stade Olimpique. And perhaps twelve American: Gillette Stadium (Boston), Giants Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field (Phila), Raven Stadium, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Raymond James, Titans Coliseum, Reliant Stadium (Houston), Arrowhead, Invesco Field, Seahawks Stadium, and Qualcomm. Third Place Match at Olimpique, Final Match at Giants Stadium. To be perfectly honest though, I think the CSA and Ottawa should consider new construction. All four stadiums listed may have the capacities, but only Commonwealth is worth a damn for soccer.

[DoyleG]

Originally posted by Khansingh
Exactly my point. Use four Canadian venues: BC Place, Commonwealth, Skydome, and le Stade Olimpique. And perhaps twelve American: Gillette Stadium (Boston), Giants Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field (Phila), Raven Stadium, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Raymond James, Titans Coliseum, Reliant Stadium (Houston), Arrowhead, Invesco Field, Seahawks Stadium, and Qualcomm. Third Place Match at Olimpique, Final Match at Giants Stadium. To be perfectly honest though, I think the CSA and Ottawa should consider new construction. All four stadiums listed may have the capacities, but only Commonwealth is worth a damn for soccer.

The stadiums you mentioned can be upgraded. The problem is that a co-hosting plan might not work for either governing bodies or FIFA.