The ’98 World Cup has barely begun, and there’s already all kinds of talk about the 2010 World Cup. Will the United States host it? Can the Americans win it? The United States has demonstrated an ability to organize the World Cup, but being in the position to win the 2010 World Cup — the stated goal of Project 2010 — will prove much tougher. Between Nike and IMG, U.S. Soccer should receive an influx of $500 million between now and 2010, and a sizable chuck of that money will go toward the 2010 goal, i.e. youth player development. It’s fine and good to set a goal and even come up with a plan, but it’s another thing to come up with a plan that works. Management on the technical side of the game has never been U.S. Soccer’s strong suit, and it will be critical, especially in the early stages of Project 2010. Full-time coaches will have to be hired, a process for selecting players will have to be put into place, and a regimen for training young players implemented. Whether he wanted it or not, one of the first tasks of the new U.S. Soccer president will be to make sure that no time is lost in launching the program, as it was for the World Cup effort during the transition from Werner Fricker to Alan Rothenberg eight years ago. The key issue is who will be the architect of the program. Is there enough incentive in it for the Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz to stay? The best American candidate, on the coaching and organization side, is Bruce Arena. He’s found working with U.S. Soccer in the past a frustrating experience, but his pragmatism may be just what it takes to make the 2010 goal realistic.