CHICAGO – Sunil Gulati still wants to bring the World Cup back to the United States. Just don't bet on that happening in 2014 or 2022 despite fears Brazil and Qatar might not be able to hold up their end of the bargain.
In a sitdown with reporters ahead of Sunday's Gold Cup final, the U.S. Soccer Federation president reiterated CONCACAF's desire to land the 2026 event as well as the US' interest in hosting. Despite speculation in some quarters that the US could be asked to host before then should social unrest (Brazil) or extreme weather (Qatar) affect either tournament, Gulati said there had been no contact made regarding that possibility.
Gulati also said that he's been led to believe that a possible shift from a summer to winter timeframe for Qatar 2022, a schedule change mooted by FIFA president Sepp Blatter recently, would be reviewed in October by the FIFA Executive Committee, of which he is a recently elected member.
