Complete Bid Book – United Bid

Proposed Match Schedule
schedules according to pre-determined
criteria. The software includes special
algorithms that calculate the shortest travel
distance for the teams from one match to the
other. By reducing travel distances for players,
staff, and fans the schedule also results in a
considerable reduction of the carbon footprint
of the Competition.
The pre-determined criteria selected by the
United Bid committee, while developing the
below match schedule, were the following:
■■
Minimum 3 days rest for teams between
matches – the only exception being the
Match for third place
■■
Same amount of rest days for teams playing
each other – exception being the Group
Stage and the Round of 32 as well as the
Final and the Match for third place
■■
The United Bid Committee proposes to host
seven Group Stage matches, two Round of
32 matches and one Round of 16 match in
Canada and Mexico, respectively
■■
Applying the requirement established in
2010 that the Host plays in the Opening
Match, for a “United” start to the
Competition, the United Bid proposes to
host opening matches in each of the three
Host Countries with the main Opening
Match being in Mexico City or Los Angeles.
With the FIFA World Cup Final having
been held in Mexico City in 1970 and 1986,
and in Los Angeles in 1994, these two
options comfortably provide wonderful
football history for the FIFA Congress and
Opening Match.
■■
Minimum 2 days between matches played
in any stadium to allow time for recovery
of the grass
■■
General flow from West to East for the
Knockout matches
■■
As a Final Venue the United Bid Committee
proposes New York/New Jersey, with
MetLife Stadium having a capacity of
84,953, the airports having connections
to over 181 countries, and offering over
100,000 high quality (3, 4 or 5-star)
hotel beds
■■
Considering geographic location, travel
distances, and stadium capacity, the United
Bid also proposes to hold the two Semifinals
in Atlanta and Dallas
■■
Balance of matches – no stadium to host
more than 7 matches
As a result of the above pre-determined
conditions, the match schedule tool produced
the proposed schedule that includes some
elements on regional clustering, as well as a
underlying “movement” of the Competition
matches from West to East as the tournament
progresses, and a total travel distance of
66,540 km for teams and fans assuming they
go from venue to venue. This distance
obviously does not account for teams going
back to their Base Camp.
A B C D E 8 Stadiums