Today the USA Bid Committee announced the thirty-two venues (in twenty-seven metro areas) still in contention to host World Cup matches in either 2018 or 2022 should the country be selected.

There are a couple of surprises on the list, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium and Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium chief among them, but the inclusion of the extremely narrow Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor may also raise some eyebrows. Michigan Stadium, or "The Big House" to fans of the University of Michigan, is the largest stadium (not counting auto facilities) in the United States so maybe it's inclusion isn't such a mystery, but some major modifications will have to be done in order for the stadium to house the seventy yard wide pitch required to host the FIFA World Cup, the same goes for Jacksonville though there is a long shot of that happening anyway. RFK Stadium does have history as a soccer venue but it's hard to get passed it's crumbling, cookie-cutter facade and small capacity, especially considering that the 90,000-capacity FedExField in nearby Landover, Maryland -- another venue that falls into the above category -- is also bidding.

Washington, DC is one of five "markets" (for some reason terming cities "markets" really irks me) that have two stadiums in the running, the other two are Dallas, Texas (The 89,000-capacity Cotton Bowl -- a 1994 host venue -- and Arlington's 100,000-seat Cowboys Stadium), Los Angeles, Detroit, Michigan who in addition to the aforementioned Michigan Stadium have also put forth Ford Field, located in the heart of Detroit, and Seattle. No city is going to get two host venues, not in a country with as many options as the United States so there's a good chance we can rule out Ford Field, though there's still a glimmer of hope for the Cotton Bowl as the Cowboys Stadium seems to have some issues when it comes to hosting soccer matches. RFK Stadium will very likely be demolished by 2018 anyway, stopping any potential debate regarding a possible capital venue.

An interesting debate is about which Southern venue will host matches if only one is chosen. Atlanta is the largest city in the South (though Charlotte proper is actually larger than Atlanta proper) and would seemingly get the nod without much debate, but it's stadium, the Georgia Dome, is in the same boat with Ann Arbor, Jacksonville, and Landover in it's inability to fit a proper pitch unlike it's rivals Charlotte and Nashville. Charlotte has the largest stadium of the three at just shy of 74,000 and will have rail links in place by the time a potential World Cup rolls around, and Nashville is probably in the most central location of the three. However, with the American population demographics continuing a Southern shift there is no reason why two of the three couldn't host matches.

Florida has four venues in the mix: Jacksonville is joined by Miami (Land Shark Stadium), Orlando (the Florida Citrus Bowl) and Tampa (Raymond James Stadium). While geographically in the South, Florida's sheer size and status as a tourism hub means it merits separate status when determining host venues. Miami may well be a shoe in, it was kept out of the mix in 1994 because baseball's Florida Marlins were unable to vacate then Joe Robbie Stadium for the required time, but the Marlins are moving to a new stadium within the next few years and will no longer present a problem. Rumors continue to circle around the potential fate of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, residents of the city-owned Jacksonvile Municipal Stadium. Jacksonville, oddly, is somewhat of a Rugby League hotbed and if the Jaguars up sticks to Los Angeles it could mean that the Axemen get a sweetheart deal on the stadium which may merit a widening of the pitch, but unless this long shot happens Jacksonville is likely to lose out to Miami or Tampa. While Orlando hosted matches in 1994 the Citrus Bowl is nowhere near up to standard and the city has bigger worries than renovating a stadium without a big tenant.

In the northeast New York (East Rutherford, New Jersey) is essentially a shoe-in and one would think the same of Foxborough, Mass. (near Boston). Philadelphia and Baltimore may end up being left out in the cold given how close they are to New York and Washington.

The only automatic choice in the "heartland" is Chicago's Soldier Field. Chicago is a soccer hotbed and the second city and couldn't possibly be left out. St. Louis (with the Edward Jones Dome), Kansas City (Arrowhead) and Indianapolis (Lucas Oil Stadium) are also bidding. Arrowhead is rather famous for it's noise but doesn't present much else that would stand out to the electors and the two domed stadiums have retractable seats which allow them to fit soccer fields but reduce capacity. All three of these places are likely to lose out to a second Texas venue in Houston's Reliant Stadium.

Out west you have several strong candidates including two famous venues in Greater Los Angeles: The Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Bowl. Both stadiums are starting to show their age though both may be set for a renovation in the near future, if it gets renovated the Rose Bowl will almost certainly host the final. Seattle is looking to capitalize on the rousing success of the Sounders and has put forth Qwest Field which doesn't face much competition in that area unless you're willing to include Denver's Invesco Field. Glendale is an interesting one as it has the fine University of Phoenix Stadium, it looks likely that it would host ahead of Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Qualcomm Stadium and Stanford Stadium. Husky Stadium has no chance.

My final bid would be: Foxborough, East Rutherford, Washington, Nashville, Charlotte, Miami, Chicago, Arlington, Houston, Glendale, Seattle, and Pasadena.

According to Soccer By Ives, fifty-eight of the seventy venues contacted by the United States Soccer Federation have expressed interest in hosting World Cup matches. The twelve venues that expressed no interest are all NCAA (American) football venues.

Of the remaining stadiums there are many that I have questions about, specifically their ability to fit an international sized pitch. I know that the field can be raised at the expense of some sections of seating but I don't really think FIFA or the USSF wants to do that this time.

Well, it is good to see interest from so many cities anyway.

The USSF recently released a list of potential venues it is studying to host World Cup matches if the United States is awarded either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup by FIFA. Some of the venues listed are obvious, some are mind-boggling.

With that said, here's my fantasy World Cup bid: [Non corporate name required for WC]

Pod A (East) -

• Meadowlands Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey): As it serves the largest city in the country this is an obvious choice.
• Lincoln Financial Field [Philadelphia WC Stadium] (Philadelphia, PA): It was between Philadelphia and Foxborough, I picked Philadelphia though I have nothing against New England.
• New Stadium (Washington, District of Columbia)*: You'd expect the national capital to host matches but DC's treatment of DC United is nothing short of shameful. After bending over backwards to steal the baseball Nationals from Montreal and then build them a stadium the District has treated United, a championship team, like a second-class citizen and if they continue to do so...
• Bank of America Stadium [Carolina Stadium] (Charlotte, North Carolina)*: Charlotte should step in and host in DC's place if the mistreatment of United continues. Charlotte is a capable host (indeed, it plays host to 300,000 visitors twice for events a year and has hosted numerous basketball finals) and a very willing host. Charlotte has gone above and beyond to make people attending special events feel at home. Quietly, with four solid USL teams, North Carolina is one of the homes of American soccer.

Pod B (South) -

• Dolphin Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida): Again, an obvious choice given Miami's appeal to tourists and Americans alike. The very cosmopolitan city would be a great fit.
• Reliant Stadium [Houston WC Stadium] (Houston, Texas): Houston was actually questionable for me because it's seemingly adverse to mass transit (a MUST during a major event like this). But it is a very, very large city and it would be insane to leave it out.
• LP Field [The Nashville Coliseum] (Nashville, Tennessee): I picked this over Atlanta and Birmingham. Birmingham was my second choice. Nashville and Birmingham seem to embrace soccer events and have stadiums that can actually host internationals. Birmingham is in a dodgy financial situation and wouldn't be able to upgrade Legion Field so Nashville got the nod.

Pod C (Heartland) -

• Soldier Field (Chicago, Illinois): A very obvious choice. Chicago has always been supportive of international events and the second city would welcome the World Cup with open arms.
• New Cowboys Stadium [Arlington WC Stadium] (Arlington, Texas): I have to admit, I think it's a tacky monument to excess. But it has to be included. I still love the Cotton Bowl though.
• Lucas Oil Stadium [Indianapolis WC Stadium] (Indianapolis, Indiana): A great venue, and like Charlotte, a very willing host.

Pod D (West) -

• Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California): A heavy refurbishment would be required but the most storied venue in the American game cannot be forgotten.
• Qwest Field [Seattle WC Stadium] (Seattle, Washington): Seattle is a soccer hotbed and a wonderful city. It's a natural fit for matches.
• University of Phoenix Stadium [Glendale WC Stadium] (Glendale, Arizona): A great venue.

Knockout round assignments -

• Eighthfinals: Glendale, Houston, DC/Charlotte, Indianapolis, Nashville, Chicago, Pasadena, East Rutherford
• Quarterfinals: Chicago, Seattle, Philadelphia, Miami Gardens
• Semifinals: Arlington, East Rutherford
• Consolation: Miami Gardens
• Final: Pasadena

I understand that Pasadena would be an unpopular choice with many for the final, but it was either that or Chicago. While New York and Dallas would be glamor venues the soul of the American game isn't there, it is in LA.

As I said, while it may be an obvious host, the USSF and FIFA should punish DC if it's treatment of United continues as it is. Charlotte has proven it's mettle in the past and would not let them down as a reserve host. Other cities to be considered are obviously Foxborough, Orlando, Tampa, Stanford, and Minneapolis.

So, what would you change? Would you kill me for making these suggestions?