The operators of 58 stadiums in the US have expressed interest in hosting matches in the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. The US is bidding to host either event.
The Associated Press reports that the stadiums that have expressed interest come from 49 different cities and include 30 of the 31 NFL stadiums, with only San Francisco’s Candlestick Park not interested. Two of the stadiums are currently home to Major League Soccer teams – Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Qwest Field in Seattle.
The 1994 World Cup, hosted in the US, had the highest attendances ever for the event. Nine stadiums were used for the 24-team, 52-match competition. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa will have 32 nations and 64 matches, and these numbers could increase again before 2018 or 2022.
