U.S. Soccer CEO: Winning World Cup Bid Will Boost Sport's Status in North America
*By Christian Smith*
Young American soccer fans feeling left out of the World Cup excitement this year have a new ambition, as FIFA voted Wednesday to hold the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
"Now the 12-year-old to the 25-year-old has the opportunity to know that if they play at the highest level and make their National Team, they'll have an opportunity to actually play in a World Cup on their home soil," the former U.S. forward and three-time World Cup veteran Brian McBride said in an interview with Cheddar. "There's no better experience than walking out on that field with your badge, the crest on you, and know you're representing your country."
The prospect of contending for soccer's quadrennial championship on home soil in eight years provides some consolation for missing out on the 2018 tournament in Russia, and it may signal the start of U.S. Soccer's international comeback.
The last time the World Cup was played in the United States, in 1994, it catapulted the national team's success and the popularity of the sport. The success of that tournament helped launch Major League Soccer, the country's professional soccer league.
The opportunity to host another World Cup, this time with neighbors Mexico and Canada, represents a rare chance for U.S. Soccer to grow the sport for the second time in a generation.
"I think the real key day in all of this is the day after the 2026 World Cup, what does our industry look like," said Dan Flynn, CEO of the U.S. Soccer Federation. He added that the World Cup creates new revenue opportunities for all three federations, and that money can be invested in developing better, more competitive players.
American soccer isn't the only thing growing. The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32. They will play a total of 80 games, with 60 of them scheduled for the United States. As part of their bid, the three North American nations pledged the tournament would generate $11 billion in revenue. The three federations could make as much as $50 million each, based on estimates.
Diplomatic disputes ー including President Trump' executive order barring most visitors from several Muslim-majority countries ー raised concerns among some countries about the North American bid, but Flynn said it was never a real issue.
"People want to talk about that and bring it into play, but the reality was this was about our sport," Flynn said. "I think it's a really good example of where our sport is really a sport that can bring people together."
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/u-s-wins-joint-bid-to-host-world-cup-in-2026).
BetMGM Host Olivia Harlan Dekker joins Cheddar Bets to break down tonight's big Bucks-76ers matchup -- likely Philly's last game without James Harden.
Sponsored by BetMGM
While many are excited to watch the final two NFL teams square-off and see which one ultimately takes home the trophy, some, on the other hand, are there for another mian attraction -- the commercials. Companies during this year's game are looking towards the future From electric vehicles, to robots, and crypto-currency, several first-time advertisers are expected to join long-time advertisers like Pepsi, Budweiser and Doritos during the NFL's biggest game. Tom Morton, Global Chief Strategy Officer at R/GA, joined Cheddar News' Big Game Special to discuss.
This week's Spring Training has been delayed as a result of the ongoing MLB Lockout. This past Saturday lead negotiators and lawyers from Major League Baseball and the players union met to discuss the economic hurdles needed to be cleared for a new labor deal, but from all accounts, it seems the sides are still far apart. Baseball Columnist and Publisher of "The Joe Sheehan" Baseball Newsletter, Joe Sheehan, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
The Super Bowl might be over, but people are still buzzing about the players, commercials, halftime show, and more. Google tracks the top searches before and after the game every year, revealing the show-stopping moments of the biggest sporting event of the year. Sadie Thoma, Director of US Creative Partnerships at Google, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the top trends this year.
Private equity firms are taking a big interest in investing in NBA teams, the sports league showing the highest ROI over the last two decades according to Sportico, Forbes, and PitchBook. Wylie Fernyhough, lead analys for private equity at PitchBook joined Cheddar News to discuss the way firms are looking to get a piece of the action on the court. “There’s a certain amount of rarity, with these," Fernyhough said. "They’re not exactly printing new NBA franchises."
Kyle Jaeger, senior editor for Marijuana Moment, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he explains why a stigma still exists for the cannabis industry in advertising and social media after NBC rejected Weedmaps' ad for the big game even though more states across the country are legalizing cannabis.
We know that the Los Angeles Rams emerged as Super Bowl champions, but the crypto industry also came out a winner on Sunday with several notable companies getting airtime in primetime. However, Richard Smith, author of the Risk Rituals Newsletter, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he says the campaigns were a 'disappointment' and adds that crypto companies would be wiser spending their resources on creating value.
Drake gambled $1.3 million in Bitcoin on Sunday’s Super Bowl — and won. Some of the action that the rapper placed bets on included the LA Rams to win outright and Odell Beckham Jr. to score a touchdown.
