04/19/24
November 15, 2017
U.S. May Host New World Soccer Tournament: U.S. Soccer and Soccer United Marketing are talking about hosting a tournament next year for ourselves, Italy, The Netherlands, Ghana, Chile, Cameroon and other nations that have opened up some unexpected free time in 2018.
Yeah, FIFA will be fine with this tournament, and Italy, the big draw of those mentioned, is certainly going to want to play in a losers tournament.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:34 AM on November 15, 2017
Can...can Canada play? Please?
posted by grum@work at 12:13 PM on November 15, 2017
Start the tournament now and build it up as a respectable voluntary alternative for those teams that are not interested in participating in the sordid 2022 Qatar convection.
Every planet deserves the chance to establish a Blatter-free zone.
posted by beaverboard at 02:01 PM on November 15, 2017
I know it's sad, but I would totally watch this.
Is there a way a tournament like this could offer enough of a financial windfall for nations to send credible squads? It would be a joke at our expense to organize this, but we all are in the same desperate circumstance and need experience for our young prospects.
I watched the Portugal friendly. It was a weird experience. I have never seen a USMNT game that mattered so little in the present. Weston McKennie's goal was impressive, Matt Miazga is the real deal on defense and I liked how our young players kept such a high line.
I know it doesn't mean all that much to play decently against a lot of Portugal spares, but as a small step up from complete disaster I'll take it. We have a long road ahead to 2022.
posted by rcade at 03:28 PM on November 15, 2017
Would we have this discussion had the national teams (especially the U.S.) done their duty when it counted? Nope.
It should be noted that Soccer United Marketing is the for-profit marketing arm of Major League Soccer and controls media rights for the league and U.S. Soccer Federation. USSF, SUM ... and MLS would love for this to happen as all three win while some fans believe the winner actually can claim a "trophy."
posted by jjzucal at 06:20 PM on November 15, 2017
I think this is an attempt to find some of the revenue lost when the USMNT failed to qualify. FS1 announcers were kind of giddy about the notion last night, as you'd expect from the network with the misfortune to have paid top dollar for a Cup a big chunk of American fans will likely skip.
posted by rcade at 07:34 PM on November 15, 2017
As a nod to the Lanterne Rouge, they can call it the Lanterne D'Or and design a trophy accordingly.
Which reminds me - I've seen worse looking trophies than the WC trophy, but the damn thing still looks like something that was done in 4th grade ceramics class when the clay started to stiffen up and then sprayed with aerosol paint. You can buy knickknacks like that for short money out on the boulevard.
posted by beaverboard at 11:50 AM on November 16, 2017
Christian Pulisic had some interesting things to say about U.S. soccer youth development in a piece he wrote for Player's Tribune.