United States 2022 FIFA World Cup bid

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United States 2022 FIFA World Cup bid logo United States 2022 FIFA World Cup bid logo.svg
United States 2022 FIFA World Cup bid logo

The United States Soccer Federation submitted a bid [1] with the hope of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. U.S. Soccer first said in February 2007 that it would put forth a bid for the 2018 World Cup. [1] On January 28, 2009, U.S. Soccer announced that it would submit bids for both the 2018 and 2022 Cups. [2] In October 2010 it withdrew from the 2018 bid process to focus on winning the 2022 edition. [3] On December 2, 2010, it was announced that Qatar would be the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. [4]

Contents

David Downs, president of Univision Sports, was executive director of the bid. [5] The United States previously hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1994, as well as the FIFA Women's World Cup in 1999 and 2003.

Schedule

DateNotes
January 15, 2009Applications formally invited
February 2, 2009Closing date for registering intention to bid
March 16, 2009Deadline to submit completed bid registration forms
May 14, 2010Deadline for submission of full details of bid
September 6–9, 2010Inspection committee visits the United States [6]
December 2, 2010FIFA to appoint hosts for 2018 and 2022 World Cups

Bid committee

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati was the Bid Committee Chairman. Sunil Gulati.jpg
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati was the Bid Committee Chairman.

The American bid was being organized by USA Bid Committee, Inc.

The executive director of the bid was David Downs, CEO of Univision sports. Other members include U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber, Phil Murphy, the former national finance chair for the Democratic National Committee, [7] former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clinton adviser Douglas Band, [8] film director Spike Lee, [9] former boxer Oscar De La Hoya, and Washington Post . [10] [11]

Details of the bid

Usa edcp location map.svg
United States 2022 FIFA World Cup bid (the United States)

In April 2009, the U.S. identified 70 stadiums in 50 communities as possible venues for the tournament, with 58 confirming their interest. [12] The list of stadiums was trimmed two months later to 38 existing venues, one scheduled for completion in 2010, and one proposed venue. [10] On August 20, 2009, the list was further trimmed down to 32 stadiums in 27 cities. [13] On January 12, 2010, the USA Bid Committee narrowed the 27 cities down to 18 as the official host cities for the United States' Bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. [14]

Those 18 cities were: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, Tampa and Washington, D.C. The 18 stadiums selected host NFL or NCAA American football games, with a capacity over 65,000 spectators. No soccer-specific stadium was selected, since none in the country has capacity for more than 30,000 spectators.

Candidate venues

ImageStadiumCapacityCityStateSurfaceHome teamsNotes
Rosebowl.JPG
Rose Bowl 94,542 Pasadena
(Host City: Los Angeles)
Flag of California.svg California Grass UCLA Bruins
Rose Bowl Game
1994 World Cup final venue
1999 Women's World Cup final venue
CONCACAF Gold Cup venue

Super Bowl XI, Super Bowl XIV, Super Bowl XVII, Super Bowl XXI, and Super Bowl XXVII Hosts
Three BCS National Championship Games
May be superseded by SoFi Stadium [15]

11-11-06-LA-Coliseum-USC-UO.jpg
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 93,607Los AngelesFlag of California.svg California Grass USC Trojans 1932 and 1984 Olympic stadium
CONCACAF Gold Cup venue

Super Bowl I and Super Bowl VII host
1959 World Series
May be superseded by SoFi Stadium [15]

Cowboys Stadium field.jpg
AT&T Stadium *91,600 Arlington
(Host City: Dallas)
Flag of Texas.svg Texas Matrix artificial turf Cowboys Classic
Dallas Cowboys
Cotton Bowl Classic
Southwest Classic
Opened in 2009
Retractable roof
CONCACAF Gold Cup venue

2010 NBA All-Star Game venue
Super Bowl XLV in 2011 Wrestlemania 32 in 2016

FedExField01.jpg
FedExField 91,704 Landover
(Host City: Washington, D.C.)
Flag of Maryland.svg Maryland Grass Washington Redskins 1999 Women's World Cup venue
MetLife Stadium Exterior.jpg
MetLife Stadium *82,566 East Rutherford
(Host City: New York City)
Flag of New Jersey.svg New Jersey FieldTurf New York Giants

New York Jets

Opened in 2010
Hosted Super Bowl XLVIII
Wrestlemania XXIX
Sun Life Stadium Coast Guard flyover.JPG
Sun Life Stadium *80,240 Miami Gardens
(Host City: Miami)
Flag of Florida.svg Florida Grass Miami Dolphins
Miami Hurricanes
Orange Bowl
Multi-purpose stadium
Marlins moved to their new ballpark and it was also host to WWE's WrestleMania XXVIII in 2012
Super Bowl XXIII, Super Bowl XXIX, Super Bowl XXXIII, Super Bowl XLI, and Super Bowl XLIV hosts
Three BCS National Championship Games
Reliantstadium.jpg
Reliant Stadium *76,000 Houston Flag of Texas.svg Texas Grass Houston Texans
Texas Bowl
CONCACAF Gold Cup venue, 2010 MLS All-Star Game host, WrestleMania XXV hosts, NCAA Final Four 2011 & 2016 host, Super Bowl XXXVIII host,
Retractable roof
061123Broncos-Chiefs02.jpg
Arrowhead Stadium *75,364 Kansas City Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri Grass Kansas City Chiefs 
Invesco Field at Mile High.jpg
Invesco Field at Mile High 75,165 Denver Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado Grass Denver Broncos 2008 Democratic National Convention Host
2006 National Football League AFC Championship Game
Raymond James Stadium02.JPG
Raymond James Stadium 75,000 Tampa Flag of Florida.svg Florida Grass Tampa Bay Buccaneers
South Florida Bulls
Outback Bowl
Olympic qualifying venue.

Super Bowl XXXV and Super Bowl XLIII hosts
WrestleMania 36 original host

Gillette Stadium02.jpg
Gillette Stadium *73,393 Foxborough
(Host City: Boston)
Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts FieldTurf New England Patriots
New England Revolution
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 2008 and 2009, 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup venue, and the MLS Cup 2002
2007 Apple cup at halftime Husky Stadium.jpg
Husky Stadium 72,500 Seattle Flag of Washington.svg Washington FieldTurf Washington HuskiesRenovation completed in 2013. Track was removed but capacity decreased from 72,500 to 70,138.
1990 Goodwill Games track and field events.
University of Phoenix Stadium aerial.jpg
University of Phoenix Stadium 71,362 Glendale
(Host City: Phoenix)
Flag of Arizona.svg Arizona Grass Arizona Cardinals
Fiesta Bowl
Retractable roof and playing surface
CONCACAF Gold Cup venue
Super Bowl XLII hosts
WrestleMania XXVI hosts

Three BCS National Championship Games
VT Hokies Marching Virginians.jpg
Georgia Dome 71,228 Atlanta Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia FieldTurf & able to install grass. Atlanta Falcons
Georgia State Panthers
Chick-fil-A Bowl
Indoor stadium
Super Bowl XXXIV & Super Bowl XXVIII hosts
World Football Challenge hosts
Indoor Stadium, DCI Atlanta Southeastern Championship 1996 Summer Olympics World Football Challenge
WrestleMania XXVII hosts
Demolished in 2017 following the opening of Mercedes-Benz Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium DoD.jpg
M&T Bank Stadium 71,008 Baltimore Flag of Maryland.svg Maryland Sportexe Momentum Turf Baltimore Ravens
Only stadium to sell out their World Football Challenge game
Philly (45).JPG
Lincoln Financial Field *69,111 Philadelphia Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania Grass Philadelphia Eagles
Temple Owls
Army-Navy Game
2003 Women's World Cup venue
CONCACAF Gold Cup venue.
LP Field 2009 crop.jpg
LP Field 69,143 Nashville Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee Grass Tennessee Titans
Tennessee State Tigers
Music City Bowl
Olympic qualifying venue
Soundersfcqwestfield.jpg
CenturyLink Field *68,056 Seattle Flag of Washington.svg Washington FieldTurf Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Sounders FC
CONCACAF Gold Cup venue
MLS Cup 2009 venue, Highest home attendance in MLS
Qualcomm Stadium.jpg
Qualcomm Stadium 67,700 San Diego Flag of California.svg California Grass San Diego Chargers
Holiday Bowl
Poinsettia Bowl
CONCACAF Gold Cup venue
Super Bowl XXII, Super Bowl XXXII, and Super Bowl XXXVII Hosts
Demolished in 2021 and replaced by Snapdragon Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium 2010 Final Four 04 01 2010.JPG
Lucas Oil Stadium 66,500 Indianapolis Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana FieldTurf Indianapolis ColtsBuilt in 2008
Retractable roof
Super Bowl XLVI in 2012,
NCAA men's basketball Final Four in 2010 and 2015,
NCAA women's basketball Final Four in 2016,
DCI World Championship Finals Since 2009
NCAA men's basketball final in 2021

Rejected venues

The following venues were considered as possible candidate venues but were not chosen to be included in the final bid. [14]

ImageStadiumCapacityCityStateSurfaceHome teamsNotes
TheBigHouse.jpg
Michigan Stadium 109,901 Ann Arbor Flag of Michigan.svg  Michigan Artificial Michigan WolverinesLargest non-motorsports stadium in the country, and third-largest non-racing stadium in the world.
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.JPG
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium [a] 77,000 Jacksonville Flag of Florida.svg FloridaGrass Jacksonville Jaguars
Gator Bowl

Super Bowl XXXIX hosts
Bank of America Stadium.jpg
Bank of America Stadium 73,500 Charlotte Flag of North Carolina.svg  North Carolina Grass Carolina Panthers
Belk Bowl
ACC Championship Game
1999 and 2000 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship venue, 2014 and 2015 International Champions Cup, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
DSCN4567 clevelandbrownsstadium e2.jpg
Cleveland Browns Stadium [b] 73,200 Cleveland Flag of Ohio.svg  Ohio Grass Cleveland BrownsHosted International Matches
Edwardjonesinterior.jpg
Edward Jones Dome [c] 67,268 St. Louis Flag of Missouri.svg  Missouri FieldTurf St. Louis Rams [d] Indoor stadium
Ford-Field-September-10-2006.jpg
Ford Field 67,188DetroitFlag of Michigan.svg  Michigan FieldTurf Detroit Lions
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl [e]
Super Bowl XL hosts
WrestleMania 23 hosts
Indoor stadium
Citrusbowlmiddle.JPG
Citrus Bowl [f] 65,616 Orlando Flag of Florida.svg  Florida Grass Florida Tuskers
Capital One Bowl [g]
Champs Sports Bowl [h]
1994 FIFA World Cup, 1996 Olympics
and WrestleMania XXIV venue.
Oakland Coliseum field from Mt. Davis.JPG
O.co Coliseum [i] 63,026 Oakland Flag of California.svg CaliforniaGrass Oakland Raiders
Oakland A's
Multi-purpose stadium.
Soldier Field during Chicago Bears home game against the San Francisco 49ers on October 29, 2006.jpg
Soldier Field 61,000ChicagoFlag of Illinois.svg  Illinois Grass Chicago Bears 1994 FIFA World Cup venue.
11-04-06-StanfordStadium002.jpg
Stanford Stadium 50,500 Palo Alto Flag of California.svg CaliforniaGrass Stanford CardinalRebuilt 1984 Olympics,
1994 FIFA World Cup and 1999 Women's World Cup venue
RFK Stadium aerial photo, 1988.JPEG
RFK Stadium 45,600 Washington Flag of Washington, D.C.svg  District of Columbia Grass D.C. United [j]
EagleBank Bowl [k]
1994 FIFA World Cup and 1996 Olympics venue
  1. Now known as TIAA Bank Field.
  2. Now known as FirstEnergy Stadium.
  3. Now known as The Dome at America's Center.
  4. The Rams returned to their previous home of Los Angeles after the 2015 NFL season, and the stadium has had no major sports tenant since then.
  5. The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl folded after its 2013 edition and was replaced by the Quick Lane Bowl, also held at Ford Field.
  6. Now known as Camping World Stadium.
  7. Now known as the Citrus Bowl.
  8. Now known as the Camping World Bowl.
  9. Now known by its historic name of Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum.
  10. D.C. United moved to Audi Field, also in Washington, in 2018.
  11. Now known as the Military Bowl, and played at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland since 2013.

August 2009 cut

The following stadiums were eliminated in an earlier cut in August 2009

ImageStadiumCapacityCityStateSurfaceHome teamsEvents Hosted
Legion Field - Alabama.jpg
Legion Field 71,594 Birmingham Flag of Alabama.svg  Alabama Artificial UAB Blazers
Papajohns.com Bowl [a]
1996 Olympics
Skorry-ohiostadium 6048.jpg
Ohio Stadium 102,329 Columbus Flag of Ohio.svg  Ohio Artificial Ohio State BuckeyesOn National Register of Historic Places
Neyland Stadium.jpg
Neyland Stadium 102,455 Knoxville Flag of Tennessee.svg  Tennessee Grass Tennessee VolunteersRanked as America's No. 1 college football stadium by The Sporting News in 2001
051207-MPLS-006Metrodome-crop.jpg
Metrodome 64,111 Minneapolis Flag of Minnesota.svg  Minnesota Artificial Minnesota Vikings 1985 MLB All-Star Game
Super Bowl XXVI
1992 and 2001 Final Four
1987 and 1991 World Series venue. Demolished in 2014 and replaced on-site in 2016 by U.S. Bank Stadium.
2009-0603-MN-TCFStadium-construc.jpg
TCF Bank Stadium 50,805 Minneapolis Flag of Minnesota.svg  Minnesota Artificial Minnesota Golden Gophers [b] One of three new Minneapolis stadiums (along with Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium)
Fiesta Bowl 2006 from Flickr 81639095.jpg
Sun Devil Stadium 73,379 Tempe Flag of Arizona.svg  Arizona Grass Arizona State Sun Devils
Insight Bowl [c]
Super Bowl XXX
former Fiesta Bowl venue
Heinz Field.jpg
Heinz Field 65,050 Pittsburgh Flag of Pennsylvania.svg  Pennsylvania Grass Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Panthers
2011 NHL Winter Classic
University of Utah Vs. Utah State - Via MUSS.jpg
Rice-Eccles Stadium 45,017 Salt Lake City Flag of Utah.svg  Utah Artificial Utah Utes 2002 Winter Olympics opening/closing venue
Alamo Dome CIMG7791.JPG
Alamodome 65,000 San Antonio Flag of Texas.svg TexasArtificial Alamo Bowl
Later became home to UTSA Roadrunners
1998, 2004
and 2008 Final Four venue
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
No free image.svg
Las Vegas StadiumProposed [d] Las Vegas Flag of Nevada.svg  Nevada ProposedNoneProposed
  1. Now known as the Birmingham Bowl.
  2. TCF Bank Stadium also went on to serve as home of Minnesota United FC during that team's first two seasons in Major League Soccer (2017–2018).
  3. Now known as the Cactus Bowl, and since 2016 played at Chase Field in Phoenix.
  4. The stadium project ultimately materialized in the mid-2010s, with construction starting in late 2017. The stadium will be home to the relocated Oakland Raiders and the UNLV Rebels football team.

June 2009 cut

The following stadiums were eliminated in an earlier cut in June 2009

ImageStadiumCapacityCityStateSurfaceHome teamsEvents Hosted
CaliforniaMemorialStadium.JPG
California Memorial Stadium 71,799 Berkeley Flag of California.svg  California Artificial California Golden Bears


Ralph Wilson Stadium (NFL Buffalo Bills) - Orchard Park, NY.jpg
Ralph Wilson Stadium 73,079 Orchard Park Flag of New York.svg  New York Artificial Buffalo Bills 2008 NHL Winter Classic
Memorial Stadium ReDedication.jpg
Memorial Stadium (Champaign) 62,870 Champaign Flag of Illinois.svg  Illinois Artificial Illinois Fighting IlliniHone of the Chicago Bears in 2002 while Soldier Field was being renovated
Paul Brown Stadium interior 2017.jpg
Paul Brown Stadium 65,515 Cincinnati Flag of Ohio.svg  Ohio Artificial Cincinnati BengalsProposed for use in the 2026 World Cup bid
MemorialStadiumSept2006.jpg
Memorial Stadium (Clemson) 81,500 Clemson Flag of South Carolina.svg  South Carolina Grass Clemson TigersHome of Carolina Panthers in their inaugural 1995 season
Faurot Field.jpg
Faurot Field 71,004 Columbia Flag of Missouri.svg  Missouri Artificial Missouri TigersThird-largest sports facility by seating capacity in the state of Missouri, behind The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Williams-BriceStadium-1998.JPEG
Williams-Brice Stadium 80,250 Columbia Flag of South Carolina.svg  South Carolina Grass South Carolina GamecocksIn 1987, Pope John Paul II, during a Papal visit to Columbia, spoke in front of 60,000 people at the stadium.
09-02-06-RazorbacksEnterRSS.jpg
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium 72,000 Fayetteville Flag of Arkansas.svg  Arkansas Grass Arkansas Razorbacks


VsUT.JPG
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 88,548 Gainesville Flag of Florida.svg FloridaGrass Florida Gators 1973 Tangerine Bowl and 1994 Gator Bowl venue
Lambeau Field bowl.jpg
Lambeau Field 72,928 Green Bay Flag of Wisconsin.svg  Wisconsin Grass Green Bay Packers Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic
Rice University Stadium.jpg
Rice Stadium 70,000 Houston Flag of Texas.svg  Texas Artificial Rice Owls Bluebonnet Bowl 1959-1967, 1985-1986
Houston Oilers 1965-1967
Super Bowl VIII
Kinnick Night.jpg
Kinnick Stadium 70,585 Iowa City Flag of Iowa.svg  Iowa Artificial Iowa Hawkeyes


Camp Randall Stadium aerial (cropped).jpg
Camp Randall Stadium 80,321 Madison Flag of Wisconsin.svg  Wisconsin Artificial Wisconsin BadgersCulver's Camp Randall Hockey Classic
12 Green Bay Packers exhibition games
KentuckyCommonwealthStadium-EZInterior.jpg
Commonwealth Stadium 67,942 Lexington Flag of Kentucky.svg  Kentucky Grass Kentucky Wildcats

Denied interest in hosting [16]

Official bid partners

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 Goff, Steven (February 20, 2007). "U.S. to Seek World Cup". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 28, 2007.
  2. "U.S. to bid for 2018 and 2022 World Cups". ESPNsoccernet . Chicago. Associated Press. January 29, 2009. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  3. "US withdraw bid to host 2018 World Cup". BBC Sport. October 15, 2010.
  4. "2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup Hosts Announced". BBC News. December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  5. Goff, Steve (February 2, 2009). "USA in '18 (or '22)". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
  6. "FIFA receives bidding documents for 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups" (Press release). FIFA.com. May 14, 2010. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  7. Goff, Steve (February 2, 2009). "USA in '18 (or '22)". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  8. "Counselor To President Clinton, Douglas Band, Joins Team To Bring FIFA World Cup To United States in 2018 or 2022". U.S. Soccer. April 8, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  9. "Spike Lee joins US World Cup bid committee". USA Today. January 4, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  10. 1 2 "USA Bid Committee Issues Requests For Proposals to 37 Potential FIFA World Cup Host Cities For 2018 or 2022" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  11. Goff, Steven (November 2, 2009). "Weymouth Joins Cup Effort". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  12. "USA Bid Committee Receives Confirmation From 58 Venues Interested in Holding FIFA World Cup Matches in 2018 or 2022" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. April 23, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2009.
  13. "USA Bid Committee Announces List of 27 Cities Still in Contention For Inclusion in U.S. Bid to Host FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. August 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 "Bid Committee announces official bid cities" (Press release). The USA Bid Committee. January 12, 2010. Archived from the original on January 23, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  15. 1 2 Developers of LA's proposed NFL stadium expand plans to lure World Cup Archived November 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine , Developers of LA's proposed NFL stadium expand plans to lure World Cup
  16. "58 US venues interested in holding FIFA World Cup matches in 2018 or 2022 | Blog | Go USA Bid". www.gousabid.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2022.