Relevent Sports Chair Charlie Stillitano, whose group runs the Int'l Champions Cup, believes only a "crazy action" by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration could prevent the U.S.-led joint bid with Canada and Mexico from "winning the right to stage" the 2026 World Cup, according to the PA. Stillitano said that the U.S. bid will be the "firm favorite" to be awarded the World Cup next June, though he "still sees governmental uncertainty as a potential weakness." Stillitano: "The only thing that could possibly derail (the bid) is some crazy action on the part of our government, but I can't even imagine that. It's ours to lose. I can't imagine we won't have the World Cup." Stillitano said that U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati believes the U.S. hosting the World Cup could "bring in a lot of money." Stillitano: "I saw Sunil Gulati and he was almost gleeful in talking about this was going to be far the most profitable World Cup. ... It's almost a given that it's going to be in the U.S. I'd be shocked if they lost" (PA, 9/4).
