The following article for Bleacher Report is the personal opinion of the author. BR is not responsible for the opinions of the author.
I was tempted to write about the decision of the United States to withdraw from the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The article written by Tim Fontenault serves as the inspiration for this article.
I also agree with Tim that the USA did the right thing in concentrating on the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
I would also add that the decision by the USA was inevitable from the time that many personalities talked about their preference for a European country as host of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The reasons why the USA deserves to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup can be broken down in to four: The increasing popularity of the sports, the infrastructure, the increasing participation of the USA in games such as the CONCACAF Champions League, and the increasing exchange of US Soccer Teams with teams from other countries.
1. The Increasing Popularity Of Soccer
The US Soccer Team and the sport itself has been experiencing a meteoric rise in popularity since the 1994 FIFA World Cup was held in the USA. The petition to bring the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup has received more than one million signatures. While this may appear insignificant, it represents a growing interest in the sport.
The schools and city parks have been full of football/soccer fields. In the city of Miami, Florida (as well as neighboring counties), there are also places where people can sit down for a great game of soccer.
The radio station 88.3 FM is planning a miniature soccer cup in a park in a suburb of Miami called Kendall.
The Miami FC (which is an American Soccer Team not affiliated with the MLS) plays against other teams with their games garnering attention to full stadiums.
The recent game between CD Chovas USA and the Seatle Sounders FC at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington was played to a crowd that packed the stadium.
We cannot forget the arrival of people from football/soccer loving countries to the USA who have contributed to the love of the sport.
I know someone who lives in Phoenix, Arizona who travelled to Washington State and Illinois to see his favorite team play friendly games. The favorite team of my friend is Manchester United.
2. The Infrastructure
Tim Fontenault talked about Cowboy Stadium in Texas and the New Meadowlands Stadium in the New York/New Jersey area. He also talked about the ability to deal with a lot of visitors.
The City of Miami, Florida (as well as surrounding areas) has stadiums that can accomodate tourists such as the Sun Life Stadium and Lockhart Stadium which have been used for football/soccer games.
These stadiums have seen games between countries of Latin America as well as between Miami FC and its rivals. The games in Miami Florida have been sold out in the majority of cases.
3. Increased Participation of the USA In International Competitions and Teams
The USA has participated in other games such as the CONCACAF Champions League. The Seattle Sounders FC defeated Columbus Crew in this tournament and qualified for the 2011 to 2012 Championship.
4. Increased Exchange Between the US Soccer Teams and teams from other countries
Real Salt Lake has exchanges with Real Madrid while CD Chivas USA has the same arrangements with Chivas of Guadalajara.
FC Dallas established contact with Tigres UANL in which both teams exchange information and play against each other in their stadiums. They also play pre season games in their stadiums. For example, Tigres plays in the Frisco Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
The same applies for FC Dallas in the Tigres UANL Stadium called La Cueva in Zuazua, Mexico.
There are more reasons but the time has come for another World Cup in the USA and it is hoped that it would be in the USA.
El Noticiero de Alvarez Galloso 