HOUSTON (AP) — FIFA’s World Cup inspectors wrapped up a three-day, five-city visit in Houston, touring Reliant Stadium as they weigh potential venues for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
The 24-member executive committee of soccer’s governing body will vote on Dec. 2. Europe is expected to be awarded the 2018 tournament, with England, Russia, Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands competing. The U.S. is facing Australia, Japan, Qatar and South Korea for 2022.
The inspectors also visited New York, the White House, Miami and Dallas.
U.S. soccer head Sunil Gulati, head of the U.S. bid committee for the World Cup, was asked to compare this effort with Chicago’s failed bid to land the 2016 Olympics. Gulati said the process is totally different, and said this committee is putting together a proposal that he hopes FIFA will find “irresistible.”
