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I have read the articles about the 2006 World Cup and am actually disgusted by the jealousy of people. It is obvious to me that a World Cup can only be hosted by a country that has the economy and infrastructure to support such an event. It is always claimed that South Africa is trying to produce a new image to the world, but so is the recently reunited Germany where both politicians and common people have worked very hard to get to this point.

World Cup 2006 will be a spectacular event hosted by one of the world’s greatest soccer nations in brand new arenas in a peaceful environment supported by a powerful economy. How much better can it be?

BJOERN BORK

Los Angeles

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It goes without saying that Paul Bergman [Viewpoint, July 8] has a Dutch surname and not an Italian one. But apart from being a sore loser, he doesn’t seem to realize that men’s soccer has at least 10 times the worldwide audience of any American sport. So it isn’t soccer that must prove itself to this country, it’s this country that has to prove itself to the world of soccer. Women’s soccer is a nice start, but not quite the whole enchilada, and if a team of male athletes from this country ever wants to know what it feels like to win a real world championship, it had better start practicing its penalty kicks.

ARNO KEKS

El Monte

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As the U.S. soccer team prepares to embark for Guatemala, it appears its players should be issued flak jackets instead of shin guards [“Crash Course,” July 13].

How ironic that our team should be exposed to ridicule, urine balloons, flag-burning and personal injury by a citizenry that, given the chance, would give their best Sunday-go-to-meeting soccer ball in order to come to this country, the one they detest so vehemently.

JOHN R. GRUSH

Mission Viejo