The USA Bid Committee today announced Fox Soccer Channel as an official partner in support of the organization’s efforts to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022.
“The challenge and privilege of hosting a FIFA World Cup is enormous, as we are seeing here in South Africa,” said Sunil Gulati, Chairman of the USA Bid Committee and President of U.S. Soccer. “The same can be said for the bidding process. Corporate support is an important component to a successful bid, and now we’re very fortunate to count Fox Soccer Channel as a friend and official partner of our endeavor to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022.”
Fox Soccer Channel and its associated platforms, Fox Soccer Plus and Foxsoccer.com, will begin a series of corporate sponsorship announcements for the U.S. bid in the coming weeks. Fox Soccer Channel is an American multi-platform sports network showcasing the most comprehensive world-class soccer programming in the United States throughout the year. Fox Soccer Channel programming is dedicated to global soccer, and holds exclusive rights to key properties such as UEFA Champions League, England’s Barclays Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, the CONCACAF Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup. It also carries a full slate of Major League Soccer, Women’s Professional Soccer, NCAA Division I men’s and women’s soccer matches in the United States and is the Official Broadcast Partner of United States Youth Soccer Association.
“As the leading source for soccer programming and information in the United States, Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Soccer Plus and Foxsoccer.com is proud to join forces with the USA Bid Committee as a corporate sponsor to bring the most important event in soccer to the United States,” said David Nathanson, General Manager of Fox Soccer Channel. “We are committed to using all of our resources to be a driving force behind support for the USA Bid.”
The United States and the eight competing bids submitted their official bid book to FIFA in a formal ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland on May 14, 2010. FIFA’s 24 member Executive Committee will study the bids, conduct site visits and name the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments on December 2, 2010, completing a 21-month bid and review process.
The United States, England and Russia have formally declared their desire to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022. Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have each submitted joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while Australia, Japan, Qatar and South Korea are only candidates to host the tournament in 2022. Indonesia withdrew its bid in March 2010, while Mexico withdrew its bid in September 2009. Following the Mexico announcement, CONCACAF issued a public endorsement for the United States bid in November that pledged the full support of soccer’s governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean.
