As the light continues to fade and the United States' World Cup bid hopes are put on hold for at least four additional years, FIFA World Cup selection for the 2022 bid makes important statements about soccer in America.
1. The Goal of FIFA is to develop the Game around the World
A nod to the United States may have been FIFA's decision to not award us the World Cup. The decision says a professional league is (finally) sustainable. FIFA is about introducing the atmosphere the World Cup brings into new environments and cultures. While the nostalgic feeling of 1994 is still in Americans' veins, it is that feeling which must be felt in its homegrown clubs and stadiums around the country and not just Seattle, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
2. FIFA is about Firsts.
The World Cup has been on North American soil before, in both Mexico and the United States. The tournament has yet to reach Middle Eastern soil. The opportunity to play a part of improving political relations by including Qatar in its bigger plan will significantly impact more than soccer.
3. Proximity is everything.
The locations of the stadiums is every bit as important as the infrastructure to transport fans from match to match. The advantage, which Qatar presents, is the ability to introduce new stadiums and new infrastructure. There is little need for renovation as with other nations. Qatar presents an opportunity for FIFA to build it into a nation, which bleeds soccer.
