CONCACAF, the region that includes the U.S., Canada, Central America and the Caribbean, wants to host the 2026 World Cup.
President Jeffrey Webb, a part-time Atlanta resident, said on Tuesday that he is committed to it. The region hasn’t hosted the World Cup since the U.S. did so in 1994. It bid on the 2022 event, which instead surprisingly went to Qatar. Atlanta was included as a host city and international media center in that bid. Work on a bid likely wouldn’t start for at least a year. When it does, Atlanta officials say they would like to be included.
“We are not involved in the bid discussion,” Atlanta Sports Council Executive Director Dan Corso said through a spokesman. “If the bid process gets to a point where they request participation from U.S. cities we certainly would be interested in having those conversations.”
Atlanta would have a lot to offer as a host site: a relatively new downtown stadium, an MLS team, an international airport, etc.
Mexico and Canada are also interested in hosting the event, so instead of one country hosting, the bid may be split, something that has happened in previous World cup. Regarding 2026, for example, two World Cup groups could be in Canada, two groups in Mexico and four groups in regions in the U.S., if they wanted to split it three ways.
Webb said on Tuesday that he thinks the strongest bid is made by a single country.
It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Which brings us to …
Qatar a mistake
FIFA President Sepp Blatter, never one to think before speaking or awarding billion-dollar sporting events to unprepared countries, recently admitted that awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar was a mistake.
No, not because of the alleged corruption inolved with the bid, or because of the deaths of dozens of migrant workers who are constructing the stadiums, but because of the one thing that FIFA's executive committee knew about before the event was awarded: the heat.
Apparently, and the science may still be out on this, it’s hot in desert regions.
Who knew?
”The technical report indicated clearly that it was too hot in summer, but despite that the executive committee decided with quite a big majority that the tournament would be in Qatar,” Blatter told Swiss TV channel RTS and picked up by numerous websites.
FIFA is exploring moving the World Cup that year to the winter, where the temperatures will just be simmer instead of broil. Of course, that will mess up the calendar of almost every league in Europe, so this promises to be another well thought-out step by FIFA.
So, to sum up, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil may be a disaster because of alleged governmental corruption (another head slapper) and protests of the same government for not providing for the poor and instead spending millions of dollars on the wrong things, and the 2022 World Cup could be another potential disaster for other reasons.
Financial fair play
Manchester City and Paris St.-Germain were two of several teams punished by UEFA, the European region of FIFA, last week for violating the Financial Fair Play rules.
The rules are kind of like an investment cap. A team is only allowed to lose a certain amount of money compared to what its owners have invested. The rules were put into place to keep teams such as the sheik-owned Manchester City and PSG, which are backed by seemingly endless amount of cash, from simply buying the best players and creating competitively unfair situations without worrying about even breaking even financially. Manchester City just won England's Premier League for the second time in three years after not having won the first-division title since 1968. PSG just won France's Ligue 1 for the second consecutive year after having not won the title since 1994.
The rules are well-intentioned because not only can these big-spending teams increase the transfer fees on the best players to the point of absurdity, but they can also increase the wages paid to players to heights that other teams can’t match.
However, the punishment for breaking the rules is bizarre.
UEFA is punishing teams that didn't pay enough attention to the bottom line by asking them to pay … more money, $82.19 million each, according to NBC Sports.
They are also being docked roster spots in the Champions League, but that isn’t punishment enough.
If UEFA is serious about these rules, it should dock these teams points in either their Champions League group stage or their domestic league standings, which would make it that much more difficult for them to either win next year’s league title and/or finish high enough to earn a spot in the Champions League.
Titles won
Arsenal ended its nine-year wait for a trophy by rallying to defeat Hull 3-2 in the FA Cup. The Gunners finished fourth in the Premier League this year and qualified for the Champions League for the 17th consecutive season. … In Germany, Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich did the double by knocking off rivals Dortmund to win the DFB-Pokal Cup 2-0. … In Spain, Atletico Madrid tied Barcelona 1-1, which is all it needed to secure the La Liga title. Not winning the title cost Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino his job. The club’s president said to expect profound changes at the club. Curiously, earlier in the week Lionel Messi signed a long-term contract to remain at Camp Nou. … In Italy, Juventus became the first team in Serie A history to surpass 100 points, hitting 102, which is a record among Europe’s big leagues. … Leon beat Pachuca 2-0 and 4-3 in a two-game aggregate to take Liga MX Clausara. They are the first team since Pumas to repeat since 2004.
Silverback honored
Silverbacks goalkeeper Derby Carrillo was called up to El Salvador’s national team to play in friendlies against World Cup teams Ivory Coast and Spain.
Carrillo, 26, has three caps for El Salvador.
That may have been the highlight for the team, which was shut out by Carolina 2-0 on Saturday. The team (2-0-4) has been outscored 11-3 in road games this year.
Goal of the week
Check out this goal from Seattle's Obafemi Martins. It's almost as good as this goal from a couple of years ago.
Great reads
Kelly Whiteside takes a look at Landon Donovan and the belief that he isn't guaranteed a spot on the U.S. roster. As she notes, Donovan is either the greatest or must frustrating player in U.S. history. Those who know me know I'm not a big a fan of Donovan for all of the reasons (and some more) Whiteside notes in her story, but I would be stunned if he isn't on the roster because the other players on the team seem to look up to him.
Interesting items
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet shed some light into Jozy Altidore's future at Sunderland. I didn't like the deal when it was made because I wasn't sure who would be the play maker that could get Altidore the ball and I didn't like the numerous signings that were made, few of whom had experience playing in England. Altidore finished with one league goal, but he wasn't the only player on the Blacks Cats to struggle. The team barely managed to avoid relegation. Jurgen Klinsmann noted the lack of service in the excellent "Road to Brazil" program on ESPN that ran Tuesday.
I'm betting that Sunderland loses loanee Fabio Borini back to Liverpool, which will need the added depth to compete across the Champions League and Premier League. Borini's recall would leave Connor Wickham, Altidore and the equally ineffective Steven Fletcher up top. In that situation, Altidore likely stays. If Borini is sold to Sunderland, I bet Altidore is sold at a cut-rate price. He needs a big World Cup to draw interest from teams other than in MLS.
Atlantans in MLS
How MLS players with ties to the metro Atlanta area did this week:
Joe Bendik, Toronto, GK, Kennesaw
Played 120 minutes in team’s game against Vancouver in Canadian Championship on Wednesday. However, Toronto was behind 2-1 after regulation. Because the teams were tied on two-game aggregate, the game went into extra time and then penalties. Bendik’s save on a penalty by Kakuta Manneh sent Toronto through to the next round.
Played 90 minutes, made one save and had an assist in team’s 2-0 win over New York on Saturday.
Next game: At Sporting Kansas City on Friday.
Mark Bloom, Toronto, D, Marietta
Played 41 minutes in team’s game against Vancouver in Canadian Championship on Wednesday.
Played 90 minutes in team’s 2-0 win over New York on Saturday.
Next game: At Sporting Kansas City on Friday.
Alex Caskey, D.C. United, M, Dunwoody
Made the 18 but did not play in team’s 1-1 draw to Montreal on Saturday.
Next game: Will host Houston Wednesday and is at New England on Saturday.
Ricardo Clark, Houston, M, Jonesboro
Did not make the 18 for team’s 1-0 win over Los Angeles on Saturday.
Next game: At D.C. United on Wednesday and at San Jose on Sunday.
Warren Creavalle, Houston, D, Acworth
Played 90 minutes in team’s 1-0 win over Los Angeles on Saturday.
Next game: At D.C. United on Wednesday and at San Jose on Sunday.
Sean Johnson, Chicago, GK, Snellville
Played 90 minutes and made one save in team’s 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City.
Next game: At Columbus on Saturday.
Alec Kann, Chicago, GK, Decatur
Did not make the 18 for team’s 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City.
Next game: At Columbus on Saturday.
Steven Kinney, Chicago, D, Norcross
Made the 18 but did not play in team’s 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City.
Next game: At Columbus on Saturday.
Chris Klute, Colorado, D, Silverbacks, Clayton State
Played 90 minutes and had one shot in team’s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Next game: Will host Montreal on Saturday.
Jack McInerney, Montreal, F, Alpharetta
Scored two goals in team’s 4-2 win over Edmonton in the Canadian Championship on Wednesday.
Scored a goal in team’s 1-1 draw with D.C. United on Saturday.
Next game: At Colorado on Saturday.
Joe Nasco, Colorado, GK, Silverbacks
Did not make the 18 for team’s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Next game: Will host Montreal on Saturday.
Michael Nwiloh, Chivas USA, D, Conyers
Did not make the 18 for team’s 1-1 draw with Chivas USA on Saturday.
Next game: Will host Portland on May 28.
Walker Zimmerman, Dallas, D, Lawrenceville
Made the 18 but did not play in team’s 1-1 draw with Chivas USA on Saturday.
Next game: At Los Angeles on Wednesday and at Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
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