The 2022 World Cup may have inched that much closer to the USA.
In a confidential report commissioned by FIFA, the US 2022 World Cup bid was evaluated as far and above the most lucrative for FIFA with a sizable gap separating second place.
The US Attorney General is now also joining the likes of Morgan Freeman, Bill Clinton and the LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan for the final presentation in front of FIFA on Wednesday.
Japan publicly admits that the US is its chief competitor to the land the 2022 World Cup. The Japanese bid plans to counteract the financial muscle of the US with high-definition audio.
The man who engineered the winning US bid for the 1994 event says that FIFA took a gamble back in 1988 but that this year, the US is a sure bet.
In Chicago, they are resigned to the fact that they will not see the World Cup in the Windy City if the USA is elected to host the 2022 World Cup on Thursday.
That BBC Panorama report finally aired on Monday night in the UK and the big bombshell was that three FIFA executive committee members who will vote on the World Cup hosts on Thursday, allegedly took bribes more than 10 years ago. FIFA is not concerned about the allegations.
Australia’s bid to nip the USA and land the 2022 World Cup has hit a snag with drama surrounding the Oceania Confederation vote, which may not figure in the World Cup balloting.
Back in MLS offseason news, it was revealed on Monday that it was new DC manager Ben Olsen who asked the club to acquire FC Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty when he became available in the 2010 Expansion Draft last week. And that was before he was officially named head coach.
Whitecaps chief executive Paul Barber insists once again that the Vancouver expansion team is shooting to be one of the top 25 clubs in the world. One of the measures of a big club, according to Barber, is a top-class training facility and the Whitecaps are planning to pour in big money to get it.
Before they even kick a ball in MLS, the Whitecaps are already in elite company alongside Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid.
The Whitecaps for the first time publicly addressed the rumors swirling about a possible move for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane.
The New York Cosmos are still a ways from being part of Major League Soccer, but they are nonetheless reportedly hot on the trail of a playmaker who plies his trade in Australia.
The New York team that is in MLS, the Red Bulls, are planning on setting up a state-of-the-art practice facility of their own in Kearny, N.J., according to a report.
Former Chicago Fire defender Wilman Conde has decided on a club for next season … and it’s not in MLS. (SPANISH)
Sporting Kansas City are in the market for a new defender and they have targeted a player from French club Olympique Marseille.
A former French international, Jérôme Rothen, is reportedly being courted by an MLS club, although Greece is still an option for him. (FRENCH)
Another name linked to MLS is Costa Rican international defender Porfirio López. (SPANISH)
In Houston, Canadian goalkeeper and MLS veteran Pat Onstad says he is waiting for an offer after his option was not picked up by the Dynamo.
Will the miss by former Dynamo forward Kei Kamara against the LA Galaxy earlier this year, dubbed in some places as the “Miss of the Century,” win the dubious distinction of world’s worst miss in soccer history?
Across the pond, American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann has lost his starting goalkeeper spot for English Premier League club Wolverhampton.
Meanwhile, another American goalkeeper based overseas, Chris Konopka, is on trial with the leaders of the Polish first division.
Making a surprise return to Europe over the weekend, specifically to Goodison Park, was former US national team forward Joe-Max Moore.
Finally, the television highlight of the day is the Carling Cup match between West Ham and Manchester United (2:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Plus).
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