U.S. sees World Cup as opportunity of profits and jobs

he 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup could bring remarkable profits and jobs to U.S. cities if the country succeeds in hosting the prestigious soccer event, said a study released on Wednesday.

If U.S. is selected as the host country in either of those years, it could result in a 5 billion dollars economic impact nationwide, according to the study, conducted by the economic practice at AECOM Technology Corp., a global provider of professional technical and management support services.

Preparation for and operation of the tournament could lead to the creation of between 65,000 and 100,000 new jobs, the research corp. added.

The U.S., Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Russia are competing to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have each submitted joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while Qatar and South Korea applied only for 2022.

The USA Bid Committee is responsible for selecting 12 to 18 cities around the country to host the prestigious soccer event, with the final submission due to FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, in May 2010.

The latest study estimates 5,000 to 8,000 jobs would be created in each host city during the event's operation.

The total economic impact projected for any one host city ranges from about 400 million to 600 million dollars at today's dollar value, according to the study. That figure is based on 12 host cities staging five to six matches each.

FIFA's criteria requires a candidate host nation to provide a minimum of 12 stadiums and a maximum of 18 capable of seating 40,000 or more spectators.

However, the U.S. used stadiums in nine cities when it hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA will announce which countries will host the World Cup in 2018 and 2022 on Dec. 2, 2010.

Source: Xinhua