Kissinger joins US World Cup bid group
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
CHICAGO, Mar 31 (AFP): Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, has joined the American bid committee trying to convince FIFA to stage either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup in the United States, US Soccer said Monday.
Kissinger, who served from 1973 through 1977 and was a noted supporter of US soccer at the time, was invited onto the panel after having been chairman of a 16-member advisory panel that helped bring the 1994 World Cup to US cities.
"We are very pleased to have Dr Kissinger join us in our endeavour to bring back the World Cup to the United States," US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. "He has done a tremendous amount for the sport in this country and his enthusiasm and knowledge of soccer will surely help us to earn the right to once again host the biggest sporting event in the world."
Kissinger, who served from 1973 through 1977 and was a noted supporter of US soccer at the time, was invited onto the panel after having been chairman of a 16-member advisory panel that helped bring the 1994 World Cup to US cities.
"We are very pleased to have Dr Kissinger join us in our endeavour to bring back the World Cup to the United States," US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. "He has done a tremendous amount for the sport in this country and his enthusiasm and knowledge of soccer will surely help us to earn the right to once again host the biggest sporting event in the world."