US World Cup bid drafts in director Spike Lee
Film director Spike Lee has joined the board of the USA Bid Committee for the 2018/2022 World Cups, the United States Soccer Federation announced on Monday.
The Oscar-nominated director of 'Do The Right Thing' has formally accepted an invitation to join the board of directors for the USA bid in its effort to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022.
Lee, a professed Arsenal fan said: “The sport of soccer has a global unifying aspect that allows it to break down social barriers and sets it among other universal languages such as music and the visual arts.
“This unique quality is embedding the sport in the diverse American cultural landscape. I’m honoured to be part of the USA Bid Committee and its efforts to bring the FIFA World Cup back to our country as we see the second half of our soccer history develop in front of our eyes.”
The USA faces a battle to host the 2018 tournament with England, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Russia and joint bids from Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain, all of which have until May 14 to submit their technical bids to FIFA for assessment ahead of the world governing body’s announcement of both the 2018 and 2022 hosts in December.
Lee joins a board that includes, amongst others, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger, comedian and Seattle Sounders FC part-owner Drew Carey, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger.
