I didn't see a thread on this topic so I decided to create one. If one already exists please merge. While watching the U20 World Cup I noticed the size of the crowds that these events bring in and the stadiums in which they were played. A few stadiums had a really big capacity and a few were really small. The average attendance for the tournament was 22,987 people per match. The final was played in an MLS stadium with 20K capacity. I think the US has the perfect situation for hosting this event given our new MLS SSSs. As much as I'd love to see it, I seriously doubt we'll have another World Cup in the US in our lifetime, or at least for another 30+ years. This could be our best chance to host a major international tournament. I know Egypt has won the right to host the 2009 competition, but I think USSF should make a serious bid for the 2011 cup. By then, almost all of the current MLS teams will have their own stadiums. Big games, like the semis and final could be held at the bigger stadiums like HDC (27k), Red Bull Park (25k), and Poplar Point (27k) if it ever gets built. Quarterfinals could be in the 20-22k stadiums like PHP, Crew Stadium, Sandy Utah, Houston with the group stages in the 18-20k seaters like Dick's, Epicenter (San Jose), and St. Louis (assuming it gets built). I know I must have missed some stadiums along the way. What do you guys think of this idea? Any other thoughts as to hosting stadiums? Should we go huge for the final and play in an NFL stadium (Gillette?). Does anyone have any information on bidding for the 2011 U20 World Cup? I wasn't able to find anything on when it will be decided and who has made or will be making bids to host.
Sounds like a great idea to me. The problem might have to do with the size of the country and therefore the added time and money needed for travel. But, jeez, it's not much further from LA to NY than it is from Victoria to Toronto, so even the travel issue probably wouldn't get in the way. I'm not quite as pessimistic as you are about the US getting another World Cup, though. I wager we get it in 2018.
Given that Canada just hosted it this year, I'd be surprised if we got the U20s as soon as 2011. Maybe the U17s.
The U-20's don't rotate as well as the big show. '77- Tunisia '79- Japan '81- Australia '83- Mexico '85- Soviet Union '87- Chile '89- Saudi Arabia '91- Portugal '93- Australia '95- Qatar '97- Malaysia '99- Nigeria '01- Argentina '03- United Arab Emirates '05- Netherlands '07- Canada '09- Egypt They've been in the Middle East twice since 1995 and they're in Egypt in 2009. Since I imagine bidding isn't that competitive it's probably not beyond the realm of reason to see the States hosting in 2011.
It definitely doesn't create the economic boom that the big one does. Look at all the stadium upgrades and infrastructure that's been put into south africa since they won the bid.
TFC couldn't play at BMO Field for over a month because of the FIFA U-20's. How will the MLS manage to play if half its stadiums are unusable?
Why wouldn't you think the World Cup will be here within our lifetimes? Maybe if you're over the age of 65. Even then, that might not be a problem. The 2014 World Cup is slated for Brazil, they still need to improve old stadium, build new stadiums, improve security, etc. The US is one of a few countries that could host on a moments notice, and as the 1994 World Cup was the most financially successful Cup of all-time, I believe Sepp Blatter and his cronies would love to bring the tourney back.
I definitely did not mean in my lifetime. That was an unrealistic exageration. But with so many able countries that haven't hosted or haven't hosted in a long time, I don't think it will return to the US anytime soon unless some drastic goes down, like Brazil not being able to host.