Seattle supporting US bid for FIFA World Cup

27 cities advance to next round of consideration.

SEATTLE – Seattle soccer supporters launched an online petition campaign today to show that the Pacific Northwest is behind the USA Bid Committee’s effort to bid on the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™. The United States is fortunate to have the world’s best infrastructure for staging international events like the FIFA World Cup™ and that’s what makes it such an honor for Seattle to be named among the final 27 cities under consideration for this bid.

This grassroots campaign is a critical component of Seattle being considered as one of 18 cities that will be included in the formal bid to FIFA. To participate in the online campaign, those that are supportive of Seattle serving as a host city and the USA being a host country should go to www.gousabid.com and click on Take Action, then go to Sign the Petition. The goal is to get a minimum of 50,000 signatures as part of the local campaign.

The USA Bid Committee is seeking to be a World Cup Host Nation and invited 39 cities to submit proposals. The City of Seattle submitted a proposal in July, working closely with local government agencies, companies and organizations including First and Goal, the University of Washington and the Seattle Sports Commission.

Seattle will now submit more detailed information and in December 2009, the USA Bid Committee is expected to determine 18 final cities for consideration as part of its May 2010 bid submission to the FIFA World Cup™. In December 2010, FIFA will award the Host Nation for both 2018 and 2022. FIFA and the Local Organizing Committee will then make a final decision, typically selecting several Host Cities for the selected country about 5 years prior to the event (2013 or 2017).

The FIFA World Cup™ championship is awarded every four years. The tournament consists of 64 matches, with 32 teams competing for the title over a period of about a month in June and July. The games are played in 10 to 14 venues, with most venues used for a two to three week period. The World Cup is one of the most widely-viewed sporting events in the world and the 1994 FIFA World Cup™ held in the U.S. reported approximately $4 billion in economic impact.