FIFA Investigates Australian World Cup Bid Scandal

FIFA has announced that it will investigate officials of the Australian World Cup bid . Revelations have come out that committee members were giving out jewelry and promising to pay travel costs to members of the FIFA Bidding Committee that is promoting the 2022 Australian bid.

A similar situation occurred during England's bid for the 2018 World Cup. The scandal with England was giving handbags to the FIFA Bidding Committee members in 2009. It was followed by Lord Triesman's declaration that Spain and Russia were fixing the 2010 World Cup.

The scandal that has affected Australia (as well as England) can be a positive omen for the United States in its bid to host the 2018 or 2022 competitions.

While FIFA has declared that it may prefer a European country such as Spain, England, or Russia for 2018, competition for the 2022 tournament is wide open with Australia, Qatar, South Korea, USA and Japan all contenders. Australia and the USA are the best candidates for 2022 compared with South Korea, Japan, and Qatar.

The USA has an opportunity to present its case before FIFA to host the 2018 and 2022 competitions on the basis of a great infrastructure, a love of soccer, and the fact that the nation has matured in the sport.

Americans who read this article should promote US Soccer and the bids for both the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.