South America could use another tournament. With only 10 countries and only one Copa per cycle, they're by far the confederation with fewest meaningful games and that's not good. Of course the big pressure comes from the big Euro money. The big clubs have many South Americans and they'd hate them playing more games for their NTs (even if they don't seem to mind when the European players play more in Europe, guess they figure they are safer because of refereeing or field conditions or less travel time or just 'cuz Yoorop).
One thing is clear: US Soccer has to get away from Concacaf, the kiddie table of world soccer (well, that and Oceania, but I digress). If the USA wants to win a World Cup, it needs to play games against serious competition.
I'm still quite bitter about the new World Cup format, for reasons that have already been debated to death. But regular Copa America participation or an expanded tournament would be a pretty meaningful consolation. I could actually see that becoming the highlight of the cycle for me if we took it seriously.
And still, the US will be the dominant team in the Fed w/in about a decade. And, there will be no looking back. The U.S. has been competitive in the Fed since '94 with no, or only a nascent, academy system. Now, all MLS teams and some USL teams have a academies. Today I watched 20 year old McKennie (Dallas FC) put in a very good shift against ManCity. Schalke was leading 2-1 when he left, they lost 3-2. 20 year old Adams (NYRB) is playing well in the BL. Sargent played for Scott Gallagher Missouri, a U.S. Soccer Development Academy Club. We've never had anything close to the development we have now. Enjoy your favorable position while it lasts.
okay, not sure what any of that has to with the US soccer President??? None of that has anything to do with him.
Good to see you 2 dragged your p!ssing contest out of WR for some legitimate banter for a change. Or are you both lost?
There needs to be a qualification system or something. If you are going to give spots to the top 3 CONCACAF and all conmebol teams, you need to have a qualie for the rest of concacaf (maybe use the league), and you gotta get the teams in the tourney up to 24. I know Argentina vs Haiti would be rough, but not sure how to Improve concacaf otherwise.
They play, by far, the longest and most grueling WCF campaign. I'd say those 18 meaningful games each cycle are MORE than anyone else.
If the dollars are right everyone will be in. The big thing will be where it’s held. I get the US wanting to use it as a test run for the WC. But I hope the South American teams won’t let this be a Gold Cup 2.0 only in the US only. The article doesn’t say but I hope that’s not what their going for.
I'm taking a wild guess here that the CONMEBOL countries are trying to make money here. They can make the most money in the USA, and I don't think it's even really close. I wouldn't hold your breath.
That’s fine all and dandy but these South American country’s can make money at home too. Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay can all lay claim to not need the US. Not every team in the region needs to host it. It should be rotated between countries that can. Trust me I’m not.
If the job is to make money, there's no reason not to make the most of it. I could understand if it were supplanting the Copa, because there's tradition there, but it looks more like a money grab. If it's a money grab, they won't be looking to grab 2 million each when they could grab 20 million each. And, I think the differences in sponsorship/TV rights, particularly as soccer grows in this country, will make this tournament orders of magnitude more profitable here compared to South America.