(CNS) Posted Monday September 6, 2010 - 11am
A three-man delegation from Los Angeles will be in New York City today to try to persuade soccer officials to hold World Cup matches in United States in 2018 or 2022.
A six-person inspection delegation from FIFA, soccer's worldwide governing body, will begin its visit to the United States the same day.
Because bidding rules limit the FIFA delegation to 72 hours in each bidding nation, all 18 cities were asked to send delegations to New York City to attend a reception for the FIFA officials at the St. Regis Hotel.
The Los Angeles delegation consists of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum General Manager Pat Lynch, Rose Bowl General Manager Darryl Dunn and Los Angeles Sports Council President David Simon. Both the Coliseum and Rose Bowl are among possible venues should the U.S. bid be successful.
The FIFA Inspection Delegation will also visit the Washington, D.C., Miami, Dallas and Houston areas.
FIFA will make its decision on the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups Dec. 2.
England and Russia are both seeking to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, while Belgium and the Netherlands and Portugal and Spain have made joint bids for both tournaments. Australia, Japan, Qatar and South Korea are seeking to host the 2022 World Cup.
The 2014 World Cup will be played in Brazil.
The United States was the site of the 1994 World Cup, which drew 3,587,538 fans, the most in history.
The Rose Bowl was the site of eight games, including the final.
