Soccer post

[patdog]

A couple of things I found today that may be of interest to the handful of soccer fans on the board:

1. The U.S. men's team next home game in World Cup qualifying will be April 1 in Nashville vs. Trinidad & Tobago. I'd love to go, but it's a weeknight and at a bad time for me work-wise.

2. The U.S. has announced that it will bid to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Both will be awarded in December 2010. It's almost certain that one of those will go to Europe (my guess is the 2018 Cup). The other one will probably go to Asia or North America. I predict the U.S. will host the 2022 World Cup.

 

[MSUCostanza]

in 2014? Brazil was it? I forget.

2022 might be great timing. Maybe with home field, we could win the whole thing.

I would also like to go to the Nashville game, as I'm just down I-40 in Memphis. Not sure I can swing it though.

 

[patdog]

Which is why I think Europe gets the 2018 Cup. It's never been away from Europe for even 2 Cups in a row before and they're not about to let 3 straight be played away from there. Especially since 2/3 of the teams that make it to the knockout rounds will be European teams. So, if Europe gets it in 2018, that means neither South America or Europe will be eligible to host in 2022 and it's doubtful that South America would bid again so soon after hosting in 2010. So it would come down to Asia and North America. Since Asia hosted in 2002 and North American hasn't hosted since 1994, I'm betting we'll host in 2022. The main competition would probably be Australia (which plays in the Asian confederation).

 

[JimHalpert.nafoom]

End line seats are only $20, and while it isn't a great view I think it's a pretty good deal. They also aren't opening the upper deck for tickets so we'll be relatively close to the field.