World Cup Qualifiers - Three Ways

The United States has made the Hexagonal Round of World Cup Qualifying and quite simply has to be a top 3 team, a 4th place finish and a play-in round would be completely unacceptable. On Feb 11th the USA faces CONCACAF rival Mexico in Columbus. Unless you were very lucky you won't be at that game. Instead you must watch on TV.

I can't really think of a better way to watch a must win than with dozens, if not hundreds, of my fellow Sounders FC fans. The ECS is hosting a double that night with viewing parties at Fuel and McCoy's down in Pioneer Square. It has been ages since Mexico won on US soil, so rather than watch history, watch victory.

Ives brings up some great speculation about the rest of the Hexagonal Round, but like most East Coast writers lumps Salt Lake City in with the rest of the West. Fact is that Salt Lake is an entirely different environment than the Pacific Coast and Seattle should be an option. How was this city supposedly a finalist for the Mexico match and not even considered for any of the others?

With the USSF bidding for either of the 2018 or 2022 World Cups it should make every effort remind the globe why the 1994 World Cup had the best attendance in history. Don't pick MLS venues. Pick HUGE venues that showcase the sport and our fans. Venues that have at least 60,000 seats, no running track and are amongst the elite venues on the planet.

Seattle, Denver, San Fransisco, DC, New England, Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Chicago, New York, Pittsburgh, Charlotte

Not a one smaller than 65,000 and all of them capable of selling out a major soccer match. Some might be a bit dated by 2018, but plant those seeds now. Show the world that we are ready to showcase this game again, in ways that no other nation can.