, Columnists
Does the World Cup Really Need America?
The U.S. may not matter much on the field, but it plays a crucial role off of it.
Probably not an American.
Photographer: Hector Vivas/Getty Images EuropeThis article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. didn’t make it to this year’s World Cup, but the World Cup will make it to America soon enough. Just before the tournament kicked off in Russia this week, FIFA announced the 2026 edition will be played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Two Bloomberg Opinion columnists, one based in Berlin and the other in Rio de Janeiro, met online recently to answer five questions about America’s tortured relationship with soccer – and vice versa.
Does soccer really need America?