Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, left, is tripped-up by New York Red Bulls midfielder Clint Mathis. AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
If we assume the 2018 World Cup is destined for Europe, as FIFA have all but confirmed, then 2022 is shaping up as a battle between Australia and the USA – a David and Goliath battle, according to Goliath.
US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, representing Goliath, laid out a list of reasons why the USA should beat out their rivals to win the rights to host the World Cup in 2022, assuming, as we should, that Europe is earmarked for 2018.
Some of the reasons he gives are as follows:
– Economic might. $US14 trillion ($A15.46 trillion) GDP. “Given the world economic climate that is a difficult thing to do. Our funding comes from the private sector or donations. Because of the NFL and a number of universities, we have world class facilities without the need to build new ones,” he said.
– Population. “Lots of experience hosting events, a very large population, including a very large immigrant population with virtual guaranteed sell-outs for all 64 games,” he said.
– Based on confederation rotation, North America (CONCACAF), having last hosted the World Cup in 1994 in the USA, is due, particularly when its main rival, Asia, last hosted the World Cup in 2002 (Japan and South Korea).
– Ease. “The United States has more tickets to sell, is a good time zone, and there are a large number of commercial partners here,” he said.
– A united confederation. “We have the full support of (North and Central American Confederation) CONCACAF whether it comes to 2018 or 2022 by unanimous decision.” (Note: This is something Australia doesn’t even have from the Asian confederation).
All hard to argue against.
But that final point, regarding stadiums, is the most salient. The USA bid has 18 stadiums all named and accounted for that can fit a capacity of five million people.
Compared to the ongoing question marks surrounding available stadiums, the conflicts with rival codes, let alone the need for significant upgrading of infrastructure in Australia, the scope of our rivals’ stadium options dwarfs what Australia can currently offer.
Critically too, according to Gulati, America doesn’t need significant government support.
“We are not asking US government or state authorities to spend billions of dollars to build facilities,” he said.
Even if it did require significant government funding, you would sense it would be forthcoming considering the embarrassing failure of Chicago’s 2016 Summer Olympic Games bid leaves the World Cup bid as America’s sole chance for redemption in the coming decade.
In terms of financial backing and stadium suitability, therefore, the American bid, at present, is a much safer bet for FIFA than Australia’s.
An American World Cup also represents another chance for FIFA and the game to ‘crack’ the North American market.
The game is currently enjoying a growth spurt in the USA with a significant increase in ESPN’s World Cup coverage this year, the success of the national team at last year’s Confederations Cup, and the continued growth of the MLS, helped, somewhat, by ‘Beckham mania’.
If the 1994 World Cup was the chance for ‘soccer’ to reestablish itself in America through the rebirth of professionalism (through the creation of Major League Soccer), then 2022 could be the chance for the game to solidify its place in the American psyche.
Despite Australia’s bid propagating the notion that a World Cup on our shores, with its proximity to Asia would mean the tournament could tap into the region’s growing population and economy (a tenuous proposition considering the continued tensions between the FFA and AFC making them look like uncomfortable bedfellows), the fact remains that Asia doesn’t necessarily need to be ‘won over’ by the game.
America, with its economic might and cultural dominance over the western world, represents the last frontier for FIFA.
Whether this reasoning is a determining factor in the biding process remains to be seen.
What we do know is, at present, the American bid, with its mega-stadiums ready, is a colossus compared to Australia’s. If Australia wants to be in contention for 2022, it needs to look to America and accept that we have a lot of work to do just to be competitive.
michael
Guest
The USA are merely bully boys, who could have just stuck with an almost guarantee to win in 2026 instead they want to bully other nations in 2018 and 2022. I don't like bullies or the US mentality that everyone is lower than them.
michael
Guest
You are wrong, as are a lot of people who follow this model of money. The world cup would then not move outside of the US and Europe. The AFC president himself has said for China to develop it's football before doing anything as thinking about a world cup bid. Given Asia's next bid is in 2034 should Australia win 2022 that should be just about perfect timing for China to get somewhere. AUSTRALIA for 2022!!! If Australia doesn't host it in 2022, then pretty much they won't host it this century. That's pretty scary considering it's only 2010. So come on AUSTRALIA 2022!!!!
Henry Arkwright
Roar Rookie
Surely China will host the world cup before Australia do. I'd imagine turning China's football team into a force to be reckoned with on the world stage is high up on the Chinese government's 'to do list.' And when China decide that they want to be good at a certain sport, they usually succeed, as we saw at the 2008 Olympics.
Andrew
Guest
Ummm... Wikipedia says that New York's economy has a GDP of under $1 trillion dollars, compared with Australia's GDP of almost $1.1 trillion... Yet you say that our economy is smaller than New York's, but last time I check, $1.1 trillion is more that $980 billion... Wikipedia also says that Texas' economy has a GDP of around $1.1 trillion, $250 billion shy of India's GDP of $1.35 trillion... Maybe try to get your figures right next time, it helps to prove your point...
Kickin Koala
Guest
I did hear a new stadium was bein considered for west or sth west sydney, to be used along with the SFS Add the fact Melb Heart will have a new stadium and you now have two stadiums in melb, two in sydney. Bluetongue stadium will need to be extended on the 3 sides that have seating (i say leave the palm trees!) Adeladies ground will also need to be extended. Tasmania and Canberra will need new stadiums built. To be that all sounds like its leaving a legacy for football in this country. Its only been 4 world cups since the USA last hosted, if anything Canada have a better shot at it. Its the same issue i have with Japan and Nth Korea putting in bids to host when the world sit's around the TV come 2022 and wonders "how did they get it again" Hell id rather Qatar get it than the USA again. I have nothing against the country, infact i love the USA, but i just feel that FIFA should spread the love around to new and interesting places, even if it means taking a bit of a risk like they have in rewarding the cup to Sth Africa .... :)
Nam Turk
Guest
The US would have more people who care than Australia has people, period.
Ken
Guest
Hey MV Dave, why would there be a massive impact on the local league here but not in the US? I would have thought the environments similar (size not withstanding) in that both countries have relatively young professional soccer leagues which play second fiddle to more established games. Surely if the WC would have an impact here it would also do so there?
Chris
Guest
Matt - they are pretty basic stats - all I did was compare the GDP of those countries to the GSP of various American states. People often don't realise just how huge the American economy is. If California was a country it would be the 8th largest economy in the world (ahead of countries like Russia, Australia, India, Canada and Spain). Another thing people often don't realise is just how poor many Asian countries are (allthough thankfully they are rapidly growing). Thailand (a country used above in support of an Asian World Cup) for example has an economy that is almost exactly the same size as Victoria (ie: not exactly big by world standards). Even India - with its 1 Billion people - has a GDP only slightly larger than Australia (population 0.02 Billion). The ratings money coming from these countries is, therefore, absolutely nothing compared to the US and Europe. Obviously by 2022 Asia will have caught up slightly - but the disparity is so huge that is will be a long time before it is in the same ballpark as the US or Europe.
Michael C
Guest
What soccer money is going into the MCG??? be nice to get some Govt money into it (more than $77 mill out of $576 mill total). Bring it on!! Adelaide, Subi etc will happen anyway - after, Ade Oval is in the main a redirection of funding/effort from upgrading AAMI and putting in a transport link - and Subi, well, that'd be done by now if not for the WC uncertainty. presently we're talking more about the ruddy uncertainty and FIFA timetable delaying projects that would be going ahead anyway - - - at this point, talk of 'WC' related spend is more about what extra considerations might be needed to be taken into account.....not necessarily about releasing the funds in the first place. So, be careful about 'project hi-jacking'.......a bit like what some at the FFA have tried to claim re the Gabba and the 2000 Soccer olympic tourney.
An Australian.
Guest
I know this is off topic but............In keeping with the reluctance of some soccer folk to refer to their game as soccer and insisting that it be referred to as Sokkah. I think it is appropriate that the national Sokkah team, the Socceroos, should change their name. I think considering the soccer folk like the word Sokkah so much lets call them "The Sokkahooroos", and anyone with a bit of knowledge about the game and the team could be a Sokkahooroogooroo.
Punter
Guest
Not sure if this is the case in 2022. I work for a multi national company & all the focus is on the emerging markets & most of those are in Asai.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29 US is pretty far in front for a stand alone Nation. Asia having 5 bidders works against Asia really. The Asian region needs to decide on one, and push that with all it's got.
matty1974
Guest
Chris, are you seriously suggesting that the combined economic purchasing power of Asia and Oceania is less than the USA? If so, would love to see some figures to back up this assertion. Further, are you sure this will be the case in 2022? In any case, like I have already said and at the risk of repeating myself, this is not a competition based on who has the most amount of really big stadia, or who is the richest. It is a political game where favours will be traded and where the two most important TV markets are Asia and Europe, where Asia + Oceania account for around 60 FIFA votes that will determine the next FIFA president in 2011, where there are 5 Asian bidders competing in the belief that 2022 is Asia's turn. Would be interested in the views of our Asian experts (Mike Tuckerman and Ben from Phnom Penh, if you're reading) of how Asia would react to having all 5 of their bidders being snubbed in favour of the USA
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Agreed we can't even compete on a Financial / infrastructure level compared to the States. If we were given the nod the whole country would get behind this colossul event. Most Americans wouldn't give a monkeys about the World Cup. That is besides the point though. Goliath will win out on this one.
Jeb
Guest
I doubt it very much also but "destroy" isn't what anyone is talking about. Similarly it's a distortion to put too much importance on one issue - hardly handing out a wc. all i'm saying is that historic opposition may be seen as a challenge to overcome.
Chris
Guest
"USA has a large affulent population, but it is equalled by the combined middle classess in Japan, Korea, Oz, NZ, Thailand, Indonesia etc" - um... no it isn't, not by a long shot. The combined GDP's of those nations is not even half that of the US. To put it in context India's economy is smaller than that of Texas. The combined economies of Korea, NZ, Thailand and Indonesia is around the same size as California's. Australia's economy is smaller than New York's. The rest of the states still comfortably account for Japan and China combined.
Chris
Guest
Somehow I doubt Blatter is going to hand Australia a World Cup in a quixotic effort to destroy two codes (NRL/AFL) he probably hasn't even heard of.
Jeb
Guest
Ren, as others have said Fifa is interested in growing the game in all parts of the world. It MAY count for something to know that there is opposition from, let's face it, rival sports here. Fifa may want to take them on. maybe not. Also I'm sure blatter knows about the history of soccer here which imo has been about discrimination and marginalisation.
matty1974
Guest
Stadia are obviously one of the USA's strong points and one of Australia's weaker points, so it is natural that USA bid team and Oz World Cup saboteurs will focus on this single issue. Clearly stadia is not the most important part of the bid, otherwise South Africa and Brazil will have never been awarded their WC's. Tifosi, if FIFA were so enamoured by a USA WC, why did they knock the USA back in 1986? if they were so keen on USA for 2022, why did they not simply re-introduce a confederation rotation system and restrict bids to CONCACAF, like they did for 2014 in respect to CONEMBOL? Why are they announcing 2018 and 2022 hosts at the same time? (answer- to enable the 2022 hosts more lead in time for stadia construction, clearly not a requirement for a 2022 USA WC). Again, too many anti Oz WC protagonists are viewing the decision through the prism of their own bias. The decision will not come down to stadia, it will be politics. My point about USA refusing to change their season is simply to illustrate that the USA does not play FIFA politics too well, the whole theme of Gulati's statement is that we're the biggest and therefore the best, it smacks of arrogance. USA has a large affulent population, but it is equalled by the combined middle classess in Japan, Korea, Oz, NZ, Thailand, Indonesia etc. When you add in the rapidly growing middle classes of India and China, it is no contest. Finally, again, please someone explain to me how the USA will structure a WC that allows Americans to watch in prime time and also suit the 2 most important TV markets (Asia and Europe)?
ren
Guest
genuinely interested to know how the opposition of the major codes is a plus...