Kansas City One of 18 Cities in U.S. Bid for World Cup

Kansas City, Mo. – Kansas City is one of the 18 official host cities in the U.S. bid for the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, requires that each bidding nation submit between 12 and 18 stadiums capable of seating 40,000 or more.

Sunil Gulati is the Chairman of the USA Bid Committee and President of U.S. Soccer. Gulati says the cities selected span all time zones, offer new and old stadiums, and demonstrate a passion for soccer.

"We have cities now that call soccer their home sport," said Gulati. Of the 18 cities selected "10 host major league soccer, five hosted games in the World Cup, others hosted teams in the Women's World Cup."

The announcement about the host countries for the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 is expected December 2, 2010. The U.S. last hosted the World Cup in 1994.

The 18 cities selected include: Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Miami, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York,and Boston.