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US President Barack Obama says FIFA’s decision to pick Qatar as World Cup host in 2022 was “wrong”. The US Soccer Federation as well as US fans were hoping for an opportunity to move the sport forward in America

US President Barack Obama said FIFA made the “wrong decision”, when choosing Qatar over the United States in the bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

“I think it was the wrong decision,” Obama said at the White House, echoing the sentiment of thousands of disappointed Americans who watched the announcement from Zurich.

“Obviously we’re very disappointed. To come up short is very difficult to take,” said US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, who called the defeat, “a setback in moving the sport forward.”

“(Hosting in 2022) was the equivalent of putting your foot on the accelerator. From that point it’s an opportunity lost. Will we get there? I’m confident we will. It’s going to take longer. It’s going to take more work.”

This was the second major sport bid loss for Americans in the past few years. Both the President and the First Lady campaigned hard for their hometown of Chicago to win the bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, only to be ousted on the first ballot.

Frustrated US supporters vented their feelings on websites, such as Twitter with comments like, “Gutted”, “USA Soccer is set back another 20 years” and “Qatar? Wow. Soccer actually just got less relevant in the US.”

Other comments included the FIFA bribery allegations, “Qatar? Time to stop playing along. They can come to us when they want us to care about soccer again. They can bribe us next time,” and “FIFA=corruption.”

On the other hand, the US secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quick to congratulate Qatar on their win saying, “Let me congratulate Qatar on its most recent triumph: winning the competition to host the World Cup in 2022,” Clinton said at the opening of the annual Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain.

Clinton added that hosting the World Cup was, “more proof that Qatar and the region are at the leading edge of important world affairs.”

Last week, Qatar became the first Arab country to win the title of a World Cup host, beating bids by the United States; Japan; South Korea; and Australia.

Soccer fans are on the edge of their seats for The FIFA World Cup 2010 games which offer amazing rivalry between some of the world’s top-grade teams. Those who love the game can bask in the glory of team spirit and rivalry while those who know little to nothing about the sport can enjoy watching a match with great beverages and snacks to go with it  . Check out some of the locations below to enjoy this once in a lifetime event :

Felix- $20 will get you three big screen televisions, a large projector and best of all? Free drinks. Stop by for the early morning matches to enjoy an all-inclusive breakfast menu from this European-owned pub. 340 West Broadway at Grand St (212-431-0021, felixnyc.com)

Louis 649- Are you going for the drinks or the matches? If your answer is the former, then Louis 649 is the perfect place to see games from 10a.m.- 3p.m. Sip on a custom cocktail instead of draft beers and watch the matches on the two big screen televisions while noshing on food specials from local restaurants including gourmet pretzel joint Sigmund Pretzelshop. 649 E 9th St b/w Aves B and C (212-673-1190, louis649.com)

Madiba- For an authentic South African feel, substitute your local pub with Madiba which is cooking up traditional South African dishes and presents a worthy interior reminiscent of South Africa too. Watch the game from the projector screen and sip on a new drink special featured each day based on the teams competing. 195 DeKalb Ave b/w Adelphi St and Carlton Ave, Fort Greene, Brooklyn (718-855-9190, madibarestaurant.com)

Manhattan Bridge Archway- If it’s a great family atmosphere that your’re looking for, head for the Manhattan Bridge Archway which is screening free viewings of the matches which will begin daily at 9”30 and 2p.m. every Saturday. Bring the entire family and a picnic to watch futbol in the great outdoors.. Manhattan Bridge Archway, Pearl St at Water St, Dumbo, Brooklyn (dumbonyc.org)

Nevada Smiths- Die hard fans rejoice! Nevada Smiths is THE place to watch the matches on one of the fourteen plasma televisions or the large screen projector. Enjoy over 24 local and international beers on tap and feel the true excitement of the FIFA World Cup. 74 Third Ave b/w 11th and 12th Sts (212-982-2591, nevadasmiths.net)

PlayBeautiful- For a real world stadium feel, get great seats at PlayBeautiful, the shop that will be screening the game on two projectors with flip up seats and a pop up stage which has a stadium like realness to it. Book (free) advanced seats online for this special event. Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry St between Kenmare and Spring Streets (212-334-0288, playbeautifulnyc.com). June 19–July 11, daily 7am–7pm with extended hours for special programming.

For your late-night weekend entertainment, you can ride the NY Party Shuttle, which will provide you transportation to numerous New York bars at any of 11 stops in Manhattan.  Turn to OnBoard New York Tours to get info  about what to do and what to see and where to go in New York City .

Mauritius Holidays characterize fantastic value for money and are ideally suited for every one of age groups, and as a consequence this beautiful paradise island is anticipated to be completely booked for the approaching football world cup being held this year in South Africa.

FIFA has by now sold about 90 percent of  the tickets made available and Mauritius tourists are now finalising their preparations, packing their baggage and anticipating with glee the thought of visiting this magical and awe inspiring land.

Mauritius Accommodation or if you favor the French word Hebergement Ile Maurice is very nearly completely booked and holidaymakers and football fans are confirming as rapidly as possible to avoid disappointment.

Lots of soccer fans are choosing to to begin with take a break in Mauritius and then make their way to South Africa afterwards or, alternatively a great number will call on the island after the last game is played and they wish to enjoy some sunshine and a few pleasure day-trips before facing the long way back home.

Mauritius flights are on hand from different parts of the world and some are straight flights into the small Island airport and some stop for a a small number of hours in Dubai or Paris.

There is such a lot to do and so many beautiful things to see when you arrive on the island and are first transported to your Mauritius Villa or your apartment.

It is recognized everywhere as a indulgent shopper’s heaven and for the modern, stylish and fashion conscious there is a tremendous selection of designer labels for everyone’s taste and price range.

Sports like kite surfing, paragliding, water skiing and diving, all come well recommended and the cost is more than reasonable when in contrast to the inflated Caribbean.

For many Mauritius seems just a dream but all the soccer supporters and tourists traveling to South Africa will actually be able to live their dream by renting their very own Hebergement Ile Maurice.

It is a sub-tropical paradise complete with a exceptional historical background, tremendous and dense vegetation and beautiful wildlife, and an island with affable, gentle and forthcoming people.

Mauritius is at this time generally regarded as the best tourist hot spot the world and with its bright blue lagoons, various historical places, enormous cultural diversity and world class service this island paradise hardly ever disappoints.

A journey to Mauritius helps you to completely stop thinking about about the typical boring routine at home as it is a genuine tropical destination with a legendary customer service level.

 ï»¿ï»¿It’s easy to see  the advancing ï»¿ popularity of soccer in the US.  Children ï»¿are at a young age exposed to it, and a lot of them keep it up through middle school and some even high school.  Ragardless of age or level , individuals are drilled hard and some players like that part.  intense practices and  tough games and losses are what it’s all about.  Players and coaches can easily become lost in everything they need to improve on, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  Rejoice in remembering those triumphs as well , with custom soccer trophies for the team and /or coach.  With the extensive drills and practices, players would certainly adore some recognition.

If you wish to find something special to thank your coach for all the hours spent for the team, a soccer plaque or trophy would be a great thought .  A team would be nothing without a coach.  Coaches and advisers in many sports oft get pushed to the back burner after a significant win, and that should not happen . Who coordinates practices and games, sets up off-season exercising , takes you out for pizza after a close game and never hesitates to listen when you need to talk?  It’s your coach, and he deserves acknowledgment.  All that coaches do can hardly be honored adequately, but with all the options available soccer awards, you can come pretty close.

It’s nice to let your favorite soccer player know that he/she is worth more than the world to you with a FIFA World Cup Soccer trophy replica.  Imagine his/her eyes dilating as he/she stares at a trophy like the one on TV that the triumphant team hold with honor .  Or maybe you’re a coach hoping to reward your team for their uninterrupted work this season.  It would speak volumes to your team if you would get for them a world cup soccer trophy to make them think as winners .  A trophy like this would even be excellent for the average soccer fancier.  Also offered are optical crystal soccer awards that are more elegant , for maybe an office desk or trophy case.  If there’s no room on a desk, then maybe a soccer plaque would be more apropriate .  Soccer trophies come in manifold styles and can be personalized, and they make excellent gifts.  In order to personalize your project , you can have a player’s name, the position he/she played, his/her jersey number, statistics, or even the team logo of your choice engraved on the trophy. There is no doubt that each trophy would be singular.  The diverse types of soccer trophies available exceed just a statue of a soccer ball; a player kicking a ball statue is one kind , and a cleat is another option .

It wouldn’t be hard to present a gift basket to a coach.  It wouldn’t be very hard to give a soccer player a soccer ball.  A truly exceptional gift would be a custom soccer trophy.

The United States Futsal Federation’s official website has a bold proclamation about the sport it’s dedicated to, calling it “the way the world plays indoor soccer.”

Slowly, futsal is becoming the way the United States plays inside, too.

Backed by an endorsement by U.S. Youth Soccer nationally and FIFA worldwide, futsal has slowly gained the acceptance of soccer coaches in the United States looking for a climate-controlled alternative to the outdoor game.

“For most of the younger players,” said Sam Snow, technical director of U.S. Youth Soccer, “it’s going to be an equivalent to what they’re experiencing outdoors.”

Futsal didn’t always have an American following.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the popularity of leagues like the MISL made Americanized indoor soccer popular across the country–both as a spectator sport and a participation sport. Indoor soccer is played on an artificial turf surface with a standard soccer ball, and allows for the use of the outer walls during play–making it similar to ice hockey in some respects. Indoor players often use the walls to get past defenders, set up passes or rebound errant shots.

Futsal, meanwhile, generally has a compact playing field (it’s often played recreationally on basketball courts), a smaller and less-lively ball, and out-of-bounds lines like outdoor soccer. The smaller area and lack of walls require better ball control, which builds technical skills that translate to the outdoor game.

“It better simulates the outdoor game in some regards,” Snow said. “It starts off that there are boundary lines like the outdoor game. You have to work a little more as an individual and as a group to keep the ball in play.

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The other technical impact of futsal that helps players develop is the weighted ball. Because you’re working with a ball that’s not as lively and doesn’t bounce as much as a regular soccer ball would on that hard surface indoors, you get a little bit more of an opportunity to keep a ball on the ground and learn those individual skills in regard to dribbling, receiving and passing.”

Futsal is also called “five-a-side soccer” for its team sizes, which differs significantly from the 11-on-11 outdoor game. The small, weighted ball does eliminate the chance to practice some outdoor skills like heading.

But for a country mostly stuck indoors during the winter months, futsal is an alternative that’s gained acceptance among the United States’ soccer leaders.

The next step is trickling that acceptance down to the players.

“I don’t think it’s played as widely as it could be, but it’s growing,” Snow said. “When you talk to club directors, they’re recognizing where they can put it in their calendar for their soccer club and get it used a little more often.

Futsal- It doesn’t have to be just a winter sport that’s played indoors. It can be played outside on a tennis court, on a basketball court, a parking lot, you name it. That’s one of the great aspects to it. It lends itself to being a pickup game, and that’s something we encourage all of our players to do a little bit more of.”