United States May Host 2010 World Cup

This past summer's World Cup in Germany was the most successful in history. With profits being raked in and sponsorship and worldwide viewership booming, one might expect more of the same from the next World Cup, which kicks off in June 2010 in South Africa. However, this is not the case.

FIFA World Cup organizers have now publicly expressed reservations about South Africa's ability to successfully host the World Cup. Jamie Trecker analyzes the developments in what has been whispered across the international soccer community ever since the summer, that South Africa is simply not ready with stadium construction, transportation, hotel accomodation, law enforcement (2nd among all nations in violent crime per capita) and basic infrastructure like roads, water, and electricity to host an event on the scale of the World Cup. Alternative venues are already being explored. The short list includes Mexico (Hosts in 1970 and 1986), the United States (Hosts in 1994) and Australia, which has never hosted, but where soccer is enjoying a new popularity, on the level with MLS.

For the record, the 2010 World Cup is still set to be held in South Africa, and FIFA's official line is confidence, but the chance South Africa could lose the World Cup grows by the day. Moving the tournament would not be unprecedented. The 2003 FIFA Womens' World Cup was moved from China to the United States because of the SARS epidemic. However, this represents the first time we have heard from the President of the U.S. Soccer Federation on any possible move stating, "the United States is always be ready to help FIFA in any way if needed."

Out of the three potential candidates, the U.S. shines the most where South Africa fails. Mexico has the stadiums, but not the law enforcement and infrastructure. Coaches, players, and their families are routinely kidnapped in Mexico. Australia has the safety, but doesn't really have the stadiums, or the transportation. Australian venues are held by Rugby teams and Australian Rules Football teams, and the World Cup falls during the height of their seasons.

The United States has the stadiums. (Soldier Field, Giants Stadium, Gillette Stadium, Qwest Field, A temporarily expanded Home Depot Center, Invesco Field at Mile High, The Rose Bowl, Reliant Stadium, The Georgia Dome, and Lincoln Financial Field have all been mentioned as likely or possible venues.) Its violent crime rate is relatively low, and transportation between cities is safe. The U.S. also has the hotel capacity to host the World Cup. I'm keeping an eye on these developments, because any decision will have to be made within a year to determine who gets the host nation's automatic bid to the World Cup Finals.