The World Cup is back
The FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 is over. After four weeks of competition, including deceptive teams like Germany and Brazil, as well as surprises from Croatia and Belgium, France became the world champion for the second time in history, and for the first time in two decades.
L’Equippe de France was full of players who either came from abroad or were children of immigrants.
Last names of African ancestry were affixed to most of Les Bleus shirts, showing the world, especially the political one, the contributions of immigration to the victorious nation.
After a four-year hiatus, the World Cup will return in 2022 to Qatar, marking the first time the tournament will be held in the Middle East.
In 2002, FIFA made history by allowing two countries from the Far East, Japan and South Korea, share the event, making it the first time it wasn’t held in Europe or the Americas.
The second time came in 2010, when the World Cup was held in South Africa.
In eight years, the world of football (not the American version, please) will make history again with the first tournament organized by three countries at the same time.
The 2026 Cup was assigned to the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the majority of the games held on U.S. soil.
That will be the third time Mexico hosts the world’s most watched and followed sport and the second time for the United States.
It will also be the second time California will participate as a host site for this tournament.
But the state will be completely different than the one seen in 1994 World Cup.
Back then Republicans were politically competitive here.
Renewable energy was just a positive idea of a better future along with our high-speed rail, and there were no threats of dividing the most populated state into three.
As the hosting country, the United States was automatically qualified for the 1994 World Cup.
After advancing to the knockout phase, the Stars and Bars national team succumbed before the eventual champion Brazil with a single goal from Bebeto just 18 minutes before the game’s end.
The defeat was a significant one as the Round of 16 game was held on Independence Day.
In terms of sports, soccer was not as popular as it is today.
The development of the Major League Soccer and the recruitment of international stars has attracted millions.
While soccer is not close to threatening baseball, football and basketball in popularity here, the sport has created a respectable fan base that has turned into a multi-billion-dollar industry.
In eight years, the Golden State will host World Cup games at the Pasadena Rose Bowl and Santa Clarita Levi’s Stadium.
Some complained when the committee decided to exclude the new Inglewood stadium, but regardless, the return of the World Cup to the California should be a cause of joy and celebration not just for hosting well-known soccer stars but for the economic impact the event brings with it.
By the time the planet’s largest sporting event returns to the state, California will be different as well.
The majority of our energy is expected to be generated from renewable sources.
If Gavin Newsom gets elected in November and serves two terms, by 2026 he will be the outgoing governor.
And this writer will be close to turn 55 with a lot more experience than he had at 23, when the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup.