All the pieces seem to be in place for FIFA to award the 2022 World Cup to the United States, the front-runner when the decision comes in December.
But Wednesday’s visit to FedEx Field by the FIFA inspection delegation — after breakfast at the White House and a Washington Monument visit — still strikes as odd, given it was more to show off the stadium’s size and opulence, not necessarily that it’s soccer-ready.
“There would be some subtle changes in order to transform it into a World Cup venue,” said David Downs, executive director of the USA Bid Committee, “including maybe some modifications at field level — tucking in some seats that would give it the proper width — but in a building like this, that’s very easy to do.”
Any changes aren’t urgent, of course, given how long it will be until the tournament takes place, and who knows what the stadium landscape in Washington may look like in 12 years. By then, even D.C. United could have its own park, although there’s at least as a good a chance that fan fests on the National Mall will include holographic images in 3D and teleportation.
