World Cup 2014: USA May Host FIFA 2026

The United States doing well at the 2014 FIFA World Cup has gotten Americans excited. The sport is quickly growing in popularity in the country especially after the U.S. team survived the so-called Group of Death, featuring powerhouse squads like Portugal and Ghana.

The quick emergence of the sport in the American spotlight may have prompted executives to consider the United States as a host for FIFA 2026.

In a CBS Sports report, Jerome Valcke, a FIFA executive, said that the United States can bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He said, "There is a commitment to work with US soccer. What we see in the United States is staggering. The audience is unprecedented, more than the NBA. The country has the largest level of youth soccer in the world, with 20 million young people playing. I think after 2022, they have an interest in hosting the 2026 World Cup."

Several FIFA executives were impressed by the way the Americans reacted to their team's performances in the previous games, showing all-out support and hosting parties in different places. In a report by Sky Sports, SeppBlatter, president of FIFA, said, "It's fantastic, the level of interest in the USA is very high. This World Cup is really getting under people's skin and the quality of the football is incredible."

The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994. According to Sunil Gulati, president of U.S. soccer, the Americans can bid for FIFA 2026 provided that the rules for bidding change. The U.S. lost in the bidding to Qatar for FIFA 2022. There were allegations of corruption happening within the organization which caused potential hosts to lose in the bidding process.

Over 28,000 U.S. team supporters gathered at Soldier Field to watch the game between the United States and Belgium. Clint Dempsey, skipper of the U.S. squad, talked about the rising popularity of the sport in the country, "There is a state about the average age watching the World Cup being 38. That shows that people who have played the game, have grown with the game are passing it down to their kids. That is going to help us, it is great to see that the game is on the rise."

The United States last lost to Belgium with a final score of 2-1. Despite the loss, the Americans focused more on the team's valiant efforts and made Americans grow hungrier to get better at the sport.