Having lost his Olympics bid, Mayor Bloomberg has a new goal in mind.
Apparently a closet soccer fan, Hizzoner released a video Thursday announcing that he has joined the USA Bid Committee’s board of directors in its effort to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022.
“New York is the most diverse city on Earth, with football fans from every country, and all of us are firmly behind America’s proposal to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022,” said Mayor Bloomberg.
“The United States -- and New York City in particular -- is an ideal place to host an extraordinary international event that welcomes the world, and to showcase the planet’s most popular sport. The United States put on a fantastic tournament in 1994, and we in New York City are ready to host an even more memorable World Cup in 2018 or 2022.”
In 1994 several games were played in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., including the Italy vs. Bulgaria semi-final.
The championship game, where Brazil defeated Italy in a post-overtime penalty kick round, was played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
France, Mexico, Italy and West Germany/Germany are the only countries to have hosted the futbol tournament twice since its inception in 1930. Mexico had the shortest time between hosting, at 16 years between 1970 and 1986.
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New York City made the shortlist for the 2012 Summer Olympics in 2004, but eventually lost out to London.
"The United States put on a fantastic cup in '94," says the mayor in the video (below). "And this time, we're going to have even better stadiums, more passionate fans, and the most memorable cup ever. At least, that's our gooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaalllll......"
Australia, England, Japan, Netherlands-Belgium, Russia and Spain-Portugal have filed to host both World Cups. Indonesia, Qatar and South Korea bid for 2022 only.
Other U.S. board members include former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, University of Miami president Donna Shalala, men's national team star Landon Donovan, former women's team star Mia Hamm, comedian Drew Carey, Washington Post chief executive officer Katharine Weymouth and New England Patriots and Revolution owner Robert Kraft.
