US Players, Pundits React to Losing 2022 World Cup Bid to Qatar

Filed under: US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

The U.S. lost out on hosting the 2022 World Cup to Qatar Thursday, and reactions in the American soccer community were mostly of disbelief and disappointment.

The negative reactions to the announcement did not just have to do with the game of soccer, however. Many players and pundits were outraged at the perception that FIFA's decision was heavily influenced by its own financial interests, while others were disappointed that a country as small and notoriously conservative as Qatar would be allowed to host the world's biggest sporting event.

The following responses from the American soccer community were all posted to Twitter following Thursday's announcement (sic for all quotes):

"There's no way around it: I am disappointed. To come up short is very difficult to take."
--United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati

"Total bummer. Congrats to Russia/Qatar, you could tell how much it meant to them. Our country deserves another WC, thanks for supporting us"
--U.S. national team and Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan, who spoke on behalf of the U.S. bid in Zurich

"I have an idea..we play Qatar in a friendly(they can even host it), and the winner gets to host the 2022 WC..wait, do they even have a team?"
--Landon Donovan, a couple of hours, and perhaps a couple of drinks, later

"Natural gas and oil, that's what has just won. They have just bought the World Cup."
--Former U.S. national team star and FOX Soccer analyst Eric Wynalda on Qatar and Russia wins

"I can't believe this, man. I've been to Qatar. Good ally and all, but NOT a place to party and celebrate the World Cup."
--TV star and Seattle Sounders co-owner Drew Carey

"Just heard the news (training), you have got to be kidding me! Qatar? Guess FIFA doesn't want to set the bar higher than 94. Its a shame."
--U.S. national team and Pachuca striker Herculez Gomez

 

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