FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez rejoined K&C Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan for another installment of “The Luchi Gonzalez Show”, presented by Toyota.
As Gonzalez and his squad continue to battle through the extended period away from soccer, the coach was asked how he handles the indefinite nature of the suspension.
“The first couple of announcements from the league, in terms of when training would be postponed, we were pretty vigilant with the players,” Gonzalez said. “With the last two or three, we listen to it and respect it, but we try not to give it that much importance because it can still change … We’re hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. That’s our mentality right now with the group.”
Outside of Major League Soccer, the coach talked about the World Cup, specifically the controversy surrounding the upcoming 2022 tournament in Qatar. While it still remains to be seen how severe a punishment Qatar could receive from FIFA amid fresh charges of bribery, Gonzalez sees no reason why the United States would be unable to serve as a replacement host.
“I know the United States is not due to host the World Cup until 2026, but we do have the infrastructure and support,” Gonzalez said. “I think we could step it up if we needed to.”
Just like 1994, hosting the World Cup could again help to push the sport’s popularity to new heights in the country.
“It’s the best event in the world for soccer – arguably for sports, in terms of the attention and viewership. It’s massive,” Gonzalez said. “For me, being a soccer coach, it’s special because it surprises you. You may get surprised with who makes it out of the group or wins the final, and that’s the beauty of it.”
