In one of the largest, longest and most drawn-out campaigns of all time, the U.S. Bid Committee for a bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 has named 18 host cities.

Charlotte is not included. Neither are Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Jacksonville, Oakland, Orlando, St. Louis and San Francisco. But since our youngest will be out of college by time the games get here, I guess Mr. Watson and I can travel to Nashville or Atlanta to catch some of the action!

The next level of competition is to determine which of the 18 cities will host the finals, etc. Catch the action at The Game Is In Us (get it? Us=U.S.) and sign the petition to bring the games back to the U.S.

If you care to donate to this cause, by the way, the bumper stickers are quite cool. (I grabbed a few free ones at a tournament in November).

Comment below: where will YOU be in 2018 or 2022? And did your city make the cut?