US Soccer pulls out of World Cup 2018 bid to focus on 2022

US Soccer has officially pulled out of the running for World Cup 2018 and will put all its energy into a bid for the 2022 World Cup.  This is a move that should not surprise anyone as it is widely expected that the 2018 bid would be going to Europe.  Most notably England as the frontfunner.  However, Russia has put together a strong bid along with darkhorse joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Holland. 

For some time we have been in conversations with FIFA and UEFA about the possibility of focusing only on the 2022 bidding process, an option we have made reference to many times,” said Sunil Gulati, Chairman of the USA Bid Committee and President of US Soccer. “We are confident this is in the best interests of the USA Bid.”

The move should produce some goodwill from the European countries as the US will almost assuredly back Europe for 2018 in return for support for 2022.  The FIFA Executive Committee will gather in Zurich on October 28 and 29 to discuss a number of items, including the final voting process for the selection of the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.  Primary competition for the 2022 games should come from Australia and Japan/Korea.