Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 8y

Sunil Gulati hopes Copa America success influences 2026 World Cup

NEW YORK -- U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati hopes that the success of this summer's Copa America Centenario will be helpful for any potential 2026 World Cup bid from the United States.

The tournament will have had an average attendance of just over 46,000 by the end of Sunday's final between Argentina and Chile and was lauded on Friday by CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez.

"We hope [this Copa America] influences where the 2026 World Cup will be, but that one hasn't been decided," said Gulati, speaking as the chairman of the local organzing committee for the Copa America.

The comments from Gulati come in the wake of U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann saying the tournament has been a "fantastic showcase" for a potential United States World Cup bid.

"Our base-line [for average attendance] was 30,000; 35,000 would've been great and 40,000 beyond our wildest expectations," continued Gulati.

"These are World Cup numbers for an event organized in seven months with 16 teams."

Gulati had said in May that there has been no decision made about a 2026 World Cup bid, pointing out that the bid process won't be known until October at the earliest.

The tournament has come under some criticism for its high ticket prices, but Gulati said they in line with events of a similar nature, adding that there were elements about the organization of this Copa America Centenario that they would analyze after it finishes on Sunday.

Dominguez and Montagliani also said they wouldn't rule out holding more combined CONCACAF/CONMEBOL tournament -- held this year to celebrate 100 years of the Copa America -- in the future.

"We've always been open to listening to the ideas that there are," said Dominguez, who stressed he had an "open mind" and that the Copa America Centenario was a "success from every point of view."

Added Montagliani: "From a CONCAF perspective, we are open to discussions as we more forward, but its not something that we've really had time to sit down and talk about in any concrete way."

Gulati pointed out that the tournament would be difficult to repeat without FIFA putting it on the official international calendar, thereby forcing clubs to release players, although an obstacle could be CONCACAF's Gold Cup, which is played every two years.

CONMEBOL chief Dominguez also challenged the winner of the ongoing European Championship to play the winner of Sunday's final between between Argentina and Chile.

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