Menino, Kraft Make Pitch For Future World Cup

As World Cup 2010 gets underway in South Africa, local officials are looking to bring an upcoming tournament to the United States — and to Greater Boston.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft made a very public appeal on Friday to bring the soccer showcase back to the U.S. in either eight or 12 years. Boston is one of 18 potential U.S. cities named by the national bid committee that could host games — should the U.S. be chosen.

Menino says host cities could bring in between $400 million and $600 million from the tournament.

"We love our soccer in Boston," Menino said. "We'd be a great host for the World Cup. That's why I'm here to support Boston's bid to be a host city for 2018 or 2022."

The World Cup was last in the U.S. in 1994, a fact that could hinder U.S. chances to land the World Cup in 2018. The 2014 competition will be held in Brazil, and organizers may choose not to hold the tournament again in the Americas in 2018.

"It might work against us in terms of getting it in 2018," Kraft admitted.

If successful, the local matches would be held at Gillette Stadium.