September 23 - Comedian Drew Carey (pictured) is the latest high-profile recruit to join the Board of the United States Bidding Committee for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hoping to bring the tournament back to the country for the first time since 1994.


The 51-year-old is best known for his own sitcom, "The Drew Carey Show", and serving as host on the US version of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", both of which were shown on ABC.

Carey is currently presenting the "Price is Right".

But he is also a passionate football fan who has worked as a photographer at US national team matches and is currently a minority owner of the Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders FC, although he is also a season ticket holder at Los Angeles Galaxy, the club David Beckham plays for.

Carey also supports Barcelona and Glasgow Rangers.

He said: “There’s nothing but upside for soccer in America, and I think hosting another World Cup will show the world more evidence of that.

“Everyone involved in the USA Bid has a passion for soccer, a passion for winning and success.

"You can tell that in the effort that’s being put into this campaign, which is why I’m excited to be a part of it."

He joins a Committee which also includes California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, America's top female footballer Mia Hamm and LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan.

With the 2018 tournament expected to return to Europe with England and Russia bidding along with joint bids from Spain and Portugal and Belgium and Holland, the US is among the favourites to be chosen to host the 2022 event which is being awarded by FIFA at the same time.

The other bidders are Australia, Indonesia, Japan and Mexico.

Qatar and South Korea are bidding for just the 2022 World Cup.

The decision is due to be announced by FIFA at a meeting on December 2, 2010.


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