U.S. might host '22, not '18, World Cup
Staff and News Services (San Francisco Chronicle)
FIFA President Sepp Blatter will propose new World Cup bidding rules that would dash U.S. hopes of hosting the 2018 tournament but put the Americans in prime position to stage soccer's showcase event in 2022.
Blatter said Monday at the European Parliament in Brussels, he wants to avoid the World Cup staying in the Americas after Brazil stages it in 2014. "There are so many (bidders) that I will propose to the executive committee that we shall open the bid for 2018 and 2022 and try to channel the different bidders," Blatter said.
Chances are that the World Cup would return to Europe in the wake of the highly successful edition in Germany two years ago. The competition will go to Africa for the first time in 2010, when South Africa is the host. The United States hosted the World Cup for the only time in 1994.
-- David Beckham will miss the Los Angeles Galaxy's Oct. 18 game at Houston because of a mandatory one-game suspension for earning his fifth yellow card in the first half of the Galaxy's 1-0 loss at Columbus.
-- Women's Professional Soccer, the league that begins play next spring and includes a Bay Area team, announced a three-year deal with Fox Soccer Channel, which will carry at least 20 regular-season games live on Sunday nights.
-- In Brasilia, Brazil, the U.S. lost to Portugal 8-1, completing the Futsal World Cup with four straight losses and a last-place finish in its group.
