If America’s image abroad has been improved overnight by the election of Barack Obama to the office of President, who’s to say that hasn’t bettered the country’s chances of hosting the World Cup in 2018 or 2022? U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati acknowledges that U.S. chances have been done no harm by the Democrat’s victory last week.
“We would all like to believe sports and politics do not conflict, but we must be realistic,” said Gulati told. “Certainly, there is a connection. When people talked about China hosting the Olympic Games, it was not independent of other concerns. Anything that enhances the perceived views of the United States can only be a positive for us.
“We know we would stage a terrific World Cup,” Gulati went on, “and having people view us as a nation in a better way is a positive. It was very clear from the reaction around the world just how popular this result has been. This election has given a lot of people a reason to cheer. They are looking forward to changes in policy. We are waiting for the rules of the game to be announced regarding 2018 and 2022. We will go after it in an aggressive fashion.”
Furthermore, “a high-placed FIFA source” said it would be naïve to think that Obama’s global popularity would have no impact on such a decision. “How can it not make a difference?” said the unnamed source. “Now when you think of America, you don’t think George W. Bush or war. You think of this man, Obama, who has made history and given hope to millions. The men who vote on World Cup hosts are not immune to those same feelings. If the U.S. bid stacks up in terms of infrastructure and organization, then Obama could be a huge factor.”
Although, as the current U.S. President has discovered, popularity ratings can go down as well as up.