Television cameras from all over the world crammed into FIFA headquarters in Zurich Thursday to carry live the official announcement that Russia would host the World Cup in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. In the U.S. only CNN carried the announcement live, although all networks mentioned it later in their newscasts -- somewhat surprising given the fact that the U.S. was among the top five finalists for the 2022 tournament. The routine coverage reflects the continued lack of passion in the U.S. for soccer, a sport that is followed with maniacal intensity in many countries abroad. The World Cup is the world's most-watched sporting event. In Russia nearly every station carried the FIFA announcement live. On his blog, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wrote, "Now we have to really prepare the way we stage the World Cup."

03/12/2010