Three Soccer Federation Officials Laud Rose Bowl, Coliseum Sites
Three members of the international soccer federation’s technical inspection group Friday praised the Rose Bowl and the Coliseum as potential sites for the 1994 World Cup, an event rivaled only by the Olympic Games in international scope.
“We know this city; we know these arenas,” said Switzerland’s Walter Gagg, head of the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Assns.) technical department. “The Coliseum and the (Rose Bowl), these are stadiums that are well known to us, and they are fantastic sites. The World Cup arena must be a fantastic site.”
The Rose Bowl and the Coliseum are among 18 stadiums in 15 cities under consideration for the World Cup if the United States wins the bid over two other countries, Brazil and Morocco. FIFA’s executive committee will announce the winning nation after a vote July 4 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Thom Meredith, spokesman for the United States Soccer Federation, said 12 of the 18 stadiums would be used for the tournament, which involves 24 teams in 52 matches over nearly a month. He said it is too early to discuss potential sites for the semifinals and final, although speculation has centered on the Rose Bowl and the Coliseum.
The three largest crowds ever to see soccer in the United States were at the Rose Bowl for the 1984 Olympics, including 101,799 for the final between France and Brazil.
The 5-man technical inspection delegation began its U.S. visit Sunday in Washington, before dividing into two groups for the remainder of the 13-city, 16-stadium tour, which is scheduled to end Sunday in Miami.
When the three members of the group, who were here Friday, flew over the Rose Bowl in a helicopter provided by the city of Los Angeles, they saw a field lined for soccer with FIFA’s initials in the middle. The Coliseum was unable to match that greeting. It had scaffolding on the field for Friday night’s Pink Floyd concert but did have film of a soccer game on the scoreboard monitor.
