U.S. loses World Cup bid to Qatar

It appears all the lobbying, glad-handing and promises of immense capital gains from the group presenting the United States bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup fell on deaf ears — or in this case lack of favorable votes.

Four separate networks, in addition to multiple online mediums this morning transmitted FIFA president Sepp Blatter award Qatar hosting rights to the 2022 World Cup. The announcement concluded nearly a year of exhaustive efforts from four other separate countries in addition to Qatar — Japan, Korea, Australia, United States — to host the world's premier event in 12 years time.

It took four rounds for the FIFA executive committee to rule in favor of Qatar, who knocked off the U.S. bid by a 14-8 decision. Qatar only needed 12 votes making its final count arrive by an absolute majority.

What assuredly swayed FIFA execs were Qatar's $50 billion pledge to develop new infrastructure and stadia if awarded. As it stands today, the country of just 1.6 million still needs to construct 9-of-12 stadiums to convene the tournament.

In addition, we know how grueling a Russian winter can be, but now we'll find out the summer's are. FIFA awarded Russia, its 2018 World Cup over fellow bidders England and joint bids from Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands.

"I can only surmise that there were other things the committee took into consideration, but this is definitely shocking and in many ways unfortunate," said Mayor Michael Nutter, who was among a host of Philadelphia sports executives and a packed house for a World Cup viewing party at Tir Na Nog (16th and Arch).

The U.S. will now look to re-submit a bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

The next chapter should the United States had been awarded was the announcement of the 12 host cities. Philadelphia was one of 18 finalists under consideration with Lincoln Financial Field a proposed match venue which would have assuredly coincided with PPL Park in Chester as an approved training site.

"I don't know what went through the minds of the board," said Nick Sakiewicz, one of six delegates on a committee to entice U.S. Bid honchos to award Philadelphia as a host city. Sakiewicz, also CEO of the Philadelphia Union was on hand yesterday at Tir Na Nog. "But this isn't going to halt anything we have been doing to improve the level of soccer in this country and I am confident that we will continue to improve as a soccer nation as we have been.

There's no denying the implication of what a12-year lead-up to the World Cup would've had on soccer in the United States. It would have sparked improvement in areas that need improvement to put the U.S. on level terms. Additionally, more exhaustive efforts towards the upgrade of American pro soccer leagues, primarily MLS, a vastly widened national team player pool through continued youth development and re-generation of fresh-faced, but deep pocketed sponsors to a sport that has grown in popularity exponentially in the U.S. since the 1994 World Cup.

"We have a very specific goal," MLS commissioner Don Garber said Wednesday. "If we get the World Cup, we want to be one of the top leagues in the world by 2022...We have a 12-year plan, and that's not just by our own measure, but how we're perceived by the rest of the world."

That's not to say all the aforementioned isn't already in place. MLS already has youth academies throughout many of its clubs, the U.S. men's full national team is perennially among the top 20 best teams in the world and MLS will have expanded to 20 teams by 2012 with the inclusion of Montreal and a second club in New York.

It's just the thought of all that happening with a goal of winning the World Cup in our own backyard would have tasted a hell of a lot sweeter.