The United States' bid to host the 2018 World Cup received an assist from none other than President Barack Obama, who wrote a letter to FIFA in support of the nation's bid to host the game's most prestigious event.

"As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together," Obama wrote, according to excerpts released by the U.

Arrowhead Stadium and other stadium sites around the Kansas City region have been named on the short list of 70 sites that were contacted by the US Soccer Federation about the USA's upcoming bids for the 2018 and the 2022 World Cup. Included with Arrowhead was Faurot Field in Columbia, MO, the Edward Jones Dome in St.

We all have to agree that that would be a great location to host a World Cup. Holland and Belgium combined can definitely do a great job and make fans and teams happy. What's your opinion?

The English media love to trumpet the success of the national side at the slightest hint of good fortune. A solid start in World Cup qualifying? All of the sudden the Three Lions are a contender for the 2010 World Cup title. Never mind the fact that their only appearance in a major final was 43 years ago and they failed to qualify for Euro 08.

Two of the biggest USA soccer stars have been asked to help a United States bid for the 2018 or 2020 World Cup. Mia Hamm and Landon Donovan have been asked and have agreed to help the National Bid Committee in their ensuing efforts.

image by newscom

Being able to host the FIFA World Cup games is one of the best economic boosts a country could have.

Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger is the latest member of the United States bid committee to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. "Governor Schwarzenegger is a passionate and committed leader in all the projects he takes on," bid committee chairman and US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote:
Whether the FFA or van Egmond himself have acted improperly over the AIS position is a difficult question. If Con Constantine's claims about the matter are true, then he certainly has a legitimate grievance.

Indonesia's bid for the 2022 World Cup will be marketed as the "Green World Cup" and be themed around saving the planet - "For the Game. For The World. For Our Planet Safety"

FIFA is scheduled to announce the 2022 host on Dec. 10, 2010.
Indonesia's national squad is currently ranked 144th in the world.

The United States' bid to host the 2018 World Cup received an assist from none other than President Barack Obama, who wrote a letter to FIFA in support of the nation's bid to host the game's most prestigious event.

"As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together," Obama wrote, according to excerpts released by the U.

Indonesia's soccer federation insists its surprise interest in hosting the 2022 World Cup finals is a serious bid, not a novelty. Despite its lack of success on the field, the world's most populous Muslim nation would be an ideal host and a serious rival to world soccer's heavyweights, said Nugraha Besoes, general secretary of the country's soccer federation.

Today's links are brought to you by Play him off, keyboard cat [@ Play him off, keyboard cat] 1. England launches 2018 World Cup bid. Failing that, the 2022 World Cup will do. It's coming home! But not for a...

With the decision for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup being made in 2011 I guess the bombs in Jakarta this week mean Australia has one less Asia competitor to host the 2022 World Cup.

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Manchester City has been awfully busy in the transfer window this summer, but the club doesn't look to stop now, having set its sights on Arsenal defender Kolo Toure.

Toure is reportedly close to landing a deal with Manchester City, with a medical all that could be left before his official signing.

Just happened to catch Keith Costigan, Warren Burton, and Chris Miles this Sunday talk about the economic import of the 2010 World Cup. This complex issue got about two minutes.

First, none of the three really work on this particular aspect of the sport. And it showed. There were banalities - it is good for the host country and the fans of the qualifying countries who go to pubs to see matches, boost the local economy.

What's been in Butt's Brain over the past few days...

• Benni McCarthy says he has no future at Blackburn under Sam Allardyce. Pompey seem to be in the running for the South African superstar - he would join compatriot Aaron Mokoena at Fratton Park if the move goes through in January [Times Live]

• Only a few days left for you to participate in our World Cup prediction contest and win some great free soccer gear from Soccer Pro [Butt Buddies WC Contest] and [Soccer Pro]

• Liverpool's injury woes continue.

England just received an enormous boost in bidding momentum after they received the stamp of approval by FIFA vice president Jack Warner and Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. England's biggest soccer ambassador and perhaps soccer's most recognized player, David Beckham is enthused by the news as this means England's dream of hosting the World Cup could become a reality.

photo courtesy of Thad Bell
Tomorrow at Arrowhead Stadium, the KC World Cup bid committee and Kansas City mayor, Mark Funkhouser will be hosting a press conference. Funkhouser is set to make "a major statement" about the city's bid to host the World Cup in Kansas City. Since the announcement of the press conference was made earlier today, I've been trying to figure out what the "major statement" by the mayor will be.

Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser held a press conference at Arrowhead stadium to announce that he had signed the Host City Agreement for Kansas City's World Cup Bid. This is another step in the process to become one of the host cities for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.Rick Hughes of the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association spoke about the predicted economic impact of $400-600 million for

''How much do you want this World Cup?'' Demetriou was asking his constituents. ''Enough to miss an entire footy season?''

The AFL is feeling a bit vulnerable in Oz's embrace of the World's game.

The popularity of soccer in Australia shot through the roof because of its 2006 World Cup success.

Among those nations bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, England is by far the highest profile; because the country is the place where the game of soccer was born, because the names involved are...