<![CDATA[View from the Front Row: The history of World Cup qualifying]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/s/the-history-of-world-cup-qualifyinghttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!kwoB!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe50fe88-acaf-4752-a6f2-108680968536_512x512.pngView from the Front Row: The history of World Cup qualifyinghttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/s/the-history-of-world-cup-qualifyingSubstackTue, 05 May 2026 21:47:48 GMT<![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART XI)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-xihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-xiTue, 02 Dec 2025 14:00:59 GMT

The World Cup draw stage in Cape Town. (Michael Lewis Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART X)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-xhttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-xMon, 01 Dec 2025 18:56:42 GMT

Anthony (Tony) Suze talked about being imprisoned on Robben Island. (Joy Rubenstein Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART IX)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-ixhttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-ixSun, 30 Nov 2025 22:49:18 GMT

Lothar Matthaeus said that Landon Donovan was the best young player at the 2002 World Cup. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART VIII)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-viiihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-viiiFri, 28 Nov 2025 23:31:41 GMT

Bruce Arena had plenty to stay to a couple of reporters prior to the 2002 World Cup draw in Pusan. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART VII)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-viihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-viiFri, 28 Nov 2025 00:03:14 GMT

In 1999, FIFA president Sepp Blatter wanted the Women’s World Cup to be played in even years, but it never transpired. (Michael Lewis Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART VI)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-vihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-viThu, 27 Nov 2025 02:07:44 GMT

The scoreboard at the 1998 World Cup draw, which was held outside at the Velodrome. (Alfonso Mondelo Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART V)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-vhttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-vWed, 26 Nov 2025 03:10:41 GMT

Just getting there turned out to be a headache and a half for many of us, thanks to general strike in France.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART IV):]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-your-conclusions-part-ivhttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-your-conclusions-part-ivTue, 25 Nov 2025 00:41:28 GMT

The world’s largest Keno board, as Robin Williams claimed.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART III)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-iiihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-some-conclusions-part-iiiMon, 24 Nov 2025 01:01:03 GMT

FIFA’s Sepp Blatter is flanked by the USWNT’s Shannon Higgins and Michelle Akers during the preliminary draw. (Photo by Michael Lewis)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART II)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-to-conclusions-part-iihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-to-conclusions-part-iiSun, 23 Nov 2025 00:41:45 GMT

The big board at the 1990 World Cup draw. (Michael Lewis Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DRAWING SOME CONCLUSIONS (PART I)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-to-conclusions-part-ihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/drawing-to-conclusions-part-iSat, 22 Nov 2025 00:37:18 GMT

Denmark head coach Sepp Piontek points to the big board at the 1985 World Cup draw some 40 years ago next month. (Michael Lewis/FrontRowSoccer.com)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[‘IT’S JUST A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT NEVER ENDS’]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/its-just-a-ripple-effect-that-never-bcdhttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/its-just-a-ripple-effect-that-never-bcdThu, 20 Nov 2025 00:41:45 GMT

Paul Caligiuri, sitting by his locker in Port of Spain, Trinidad, made history 36 years ago on Nov. 19, 1989. (Michael Lewis/FrontRowSoccer.com Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DOING THEIR BIDDING (PART IV)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-iv-d05https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-iv-d05Fri, 04 Jul 2025 14:06:58 GMT

On June 13, 2018, FIFA awarded the Canada, Mexico and the United States the responsibility of hosting the 2026 World Cup. It will be the first time three countries will co-host the tournament.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DOING THEIR BIDDING (PART III)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-iiihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-iiiThu, 03 Jul 2025 13:10:05 GMT

When Qatar was named the host of the 2022 World Cup. (Dec. 1, 2010)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DOING THEIR BIDDING (PART II)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-ii-e17https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-ii-e17Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:51:13 GMT

Werner Fricker, then USSF president, toasts the USA being awarded the rights to host the 1994 World Cup on July 4, 1988. (Michael Lewis Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DOING THEIR BIDDING (PART I)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-i-ff4https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-i-ff4Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:49:36 GMT

With Friday, July 4 being the 37th anniversary of FIFA awarding the 1994 World Cup to the United States, Michael Lewis starts a multi-part series on some of the previous bids. For the first time the U.S. Soccer Federation expressed interest in hosting the world's greatest sporting extravaganza. In 1969, the U.S. Soccer Football Association, announced it…

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DOING THEIR BIDDING (PART IV)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-ivhttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-ivSat, 06 Jul 2024 13:19:01 GMT

On June 13, 2018, FIFA awarded the Canada, Mexico and the United States the responsibility of hosting the 2026 World Cup. It will be the first time three countries will co-host the tournament.

Final part of a four-part series

By Michael Lewis

The World Cup is returning to North America.

FIFA Wednesday morning voted to award the 2026 World Cup to Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The United Bid of those three Concacaf countries defeated Morocco’s bid. It accrued 134 votes, as opposed to 65 for Morocco and one vote to have no host decided, during the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow Wednesday.

It will be the first time three countries will share hosting responsibilities of the world’s largest sporting spectacle. The only other World Cup that featured multiple hosts was the 2002 event, in which South Korea and Japan shared the honors.

The 2026 World Cup also will be the first time 48 teams will participate in the tournament. It is expected to be held in June and July of that year.

So, the U.S., which failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, scored a major victory on the eve of the quadrennial competition in Russia. Mexico, under the direction of former New York Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio, is competing in this tournament. Canada hasn’t performed in a World Cup since 1986.

“Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a rare and important moment to demonstrate that we are all truly united through sport,” said U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro, co-chair of the United Bid. ‘We are humbled by the trust our colleagues in the FIFA family have put in our bid; strengthened by the unity between our three countries and the Concacaf region; and excited by the opportunity we have to put football on a new and sustainable path for generations to come.”

The other two co-chairs of the United Bid Committee shared similar sentiments.

“Hosting a FIFA World Cup is an extraordinary honor and privilege,” Canada Soccer president Steven Reed said. “Canada, Mexico, and the United States are ready to welcome the world to North America and serve as stewards of the largest FIFA World Cup in history. Our vision is of a world of opportunity for our candidate host cities and for the global football community.”

Added Mexico Football Federation president Decio de Maria: “We are grateful for the chance to bring to life FIFA’s new vision for the future of football. Together — in partnership with our candidate host cities, the member Associations and FIFA — we will use this platform to unite the world around football and help create a new and sustainable blueprint for the future of FIFA World Cups.”

FIFA decided to go with the financial security of the United States-Canada-Mexico bid where all venues are ready, rather than with a Moroccan bid that needs to build or renovate all 14 stadiums.

FIFA member associations had three options: Morocco, the United Bid and none of the two entries.

The bids were studies in contrasts. Morocco promised $7.2 billion in profits, whereas the United Bid projected $14.3 billion.

During a presentation to the FIFA Congress right before the vote, the three presidents of the United Bid federations made the organization’s final push. Youth players from all federations also spoke — Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Alphonso Davies, who is the Major League Soccer player of the week, U.S. Under-20 Brianna Pinto international and Mexican U-21 player Diego Lainez.

Prior to Wednesday’s vote, Concacaf had hosted the World Cup three times — Mexico twice in 1970 and 1986 and the United States in 1994.

Africa has played host once, with South Africa welcoming world in 2010.

Morocco has lost in four previous World Cup bid campaigns.

Hosting the 1994 World Cup turned out to be a watershed moment for American soccer as the sport received a much-needed boost after a highly successful tournament. Major League Soccer was born two years later.

The 2022 World Cup will be hosted by Qatar, which will include 32 teams.

Here’s how everyone voted:

https://tinyurl.com/yaehyw27

]]><![CDATA[DOING THEIR BIDDING (PART III): USA loses out on 2022 World Cup bid]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-iii-usahttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-iii-usaFri, 05 Jul 2024 13:21:54 GMT

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DOING THEIR BIDDING (PART II)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-iihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-iiThu, 04 Jul 2024 10:54:46 GMT

Werner Fricker, then USSF president, toasts the USA being awarded the rights to host the 1994 World Cup on July 4, 1988. (Michael Lewis Photo)

Read more

]]><![CDATA[DOING THEIR BIDDING (PART I)]]>https://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-ihttps://frontrowsoccer.substack.com/p/doing-their-bidding-part-iWed, 03 Jul 2024 15:47:02 GMT

With Thursday, July 4 being the 36th anniversary of FIFA awarding the 1994 World Cup to the United States, Michael Lewis starts a multi-part series on some of the previous bids. For the first time the U.S. Soccer Federation expressed interest in hosting the world's greatest sporting extravaganza. In 1969, the U.S. Soccer Football Association, announced it wanted to hold the 1978 World Cup in the USA.

Read more

]]>