Senators Push for U.S. World Cup

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) “is leading a bipartisan coalition of 26 U.S. Senators in an effort to support America’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup,” according to a press release.

Senators Gillibrand (D-NY), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mark Udall (D-CO), George LeMieux (R-FL), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Christopher Bond (R-MO), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Bob Corker (TN), Scott Brown (R-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) have so far joined the effort to support America’s World Cup bid.

They made their push in a letter sent to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.  An excerpt:

“With a population of 300 million people, we assure you that there will be no lack of fans clamoring to attend the matches.  Attending the matches will be no difficult feat either, as the United States features significant transportation and tourism infrastructure that will enable visitors to attend games with great ease,” the senators write in their letter to FIFA President Sepp Blatter. “As visitors from across the globe come to the United States, we stand well prepared to answer all their needs.  As always, we relish the opportunity to showcase our enthusiasm for this sport and hope that Americans will be given a chance to display their passion.”

(credit image – daylife/getty)