Goff you dont seem to be getting any time off. Good for us SI readers, but is it good good for Senor Goff? Getting these posts in while the Mrs. is shopping for curtains or something?

(sigh)

it never ends...

last year, when I planned to take time off, Nowak left and Adu was traded.

2018 seems so far away. It's hard to believe that a kid who ends up playing for the United States in 2018 may not even have been born when the States hosted the 1994 Cup.

Imagine how folks in England feel.

Regarding Gulati's getting any sort of a straight answer out of FIFA -- ha! Blatter basically said that they've made the change to get more bids. They want the US to make the effort, even if they don't award the game to us. So they're going to do everything they can to convince Sunil we have a shot.

I sure hope he's more than just a Professor of Economics. Hope he's also a Professor of the Shell Game, Bakshish, etc.

Either way, as far as I'm concerned, if he has any sense at all, he'll come back and pull the US's effort for 2018.

Isn't the embargo getting increasingly porous? If you can find your way to Toronto, you can find your way to Havana. Besides, I'm not sure that any attempt to retaliate against USA fans by their own government would turn out very well from a PR standpoint. The nannies at Treasury might do well to look the other way in the case.

Sunil should send Sepp a nice (and very, very expensive) Christmas present.

With the US as the WC18 host, a CONCACAF slot opens up. Maybe Kickback Jack should send Sepp a present as well.

goffer -- while we appreciate your dedication, you should take your time off -- or at least condense some stuff. Don't make me call DeNunzio and have him force you to take some time off.

What is the punishment for US citizens for going to Cuba? Regardless of what it is I agree with 22201 about the PR standpoint. How are you going to punish a couple thousand people for going to Havanna to cheer on the US against the Cubans in a soccer match. That would look so stupid and it would surely cost way too much money to prosecute that many people at the same time.

The embargo has been hyper-stupid and counterproductive since it was conceived. This has never stopped it from being enforced. But 22201 is correct, if you can get to Toronto you can go to Cuba with zero problems.

The embargo has been hyper-stupid and counterproductive since it was conceived. This has never stopped it from being enforced. But 22201 is correct, if you can get to Toronto you can go to Cuba with zero problems.

Posted by: nathan3e | December 10, 2007 06:06 PM
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Don't count on it! The Treasury Department has caught a lot of Americans who went to Cuba from another country even if they didn't get their passport stamped. I am not sure how they are doing it, but Treasury Department is catching folks.

Regardless, I would hope they allow Americans to cheer on the national team.

I am a serious fisherman, besides a soccer fan and woulkd love to fish in cuba. It is not as simple as getting to toronto. There are hefty fines if you get caught. The US goverment infrastructure goes through periods of time hen they're very serious about catching people. I went on a mexican vacation with my then GF who lived in montreal. Coming home I was stopped and searched for 45 minutes for evidence of cuban travel-my crime being tan in february and coming back through montreal.

With 2010 & 2014, this will be the first time that consecutive World Cups are hosted outside of Europe, so not a chance that Europe won't land the 2018 World Cup. Best U.S. strategy would be to make a deal with European countries that we'll support a European bid for 2018 if they commit to supporting a U.S. bid for 2022. Everybody loves a "win-win", right?

Hey Goff

Sorry to be off topic, but Brian Carroll meant alot to DC united and is an incredible player to have with regard to depth of a team. Any word on possibly bringing him back to DC via trade, just like we did with Dyachenko? Thanks!

Yes, Mr. Goff. When we get Veron (as you promise), Carroll would be our third string defensive midfielder. Whom can we trade to get him back as soon as possible?

If you really want to go to Cuba and don't want to go by raft, just go thru Canada. It's not that complicated, just ask that the folks in Cuba not stamp your passport. It's not that uncommon of a trip.

Oh, and pay in cash.....

Hey Goff

Sorry to be off topic, but Brian Carroll meant alot to DC united and is an incredible player to have with regard to depth of a team. Any word on possibly bringing him back to DC via trade, just like we did with Dyachenko? Thanks!

Posted by: Alamhir

It struck me that, at the eqpt sale last week, BC's stuff was on the table with other "ex-DCU players."
So long, farewell.
It just seemed so fast. Now his stuff is with Filomeno's and Prideaux's......

You can also get to Cuba via Cancun. Too bad the US v Cuba wouldn't be around the same time of a potential DC United v Atlante (de Cancun) matchup in the CCC.

http://www.cubatravelusa.com/cancun.htm

"What is the punishment for US citizens for going to Cuba? Regardless of what it is I agree with 22201 about the PR standpoint. How are you going to punish a couple thousand people for going to Havanna to cheer on the US against the Cubans in a soccer match. That would look so stupid and it would surely cost way too much money to prosecute that many people at the same time.

Posted by: Mike | December 10, 2007 05:49 PM"

++++++++++++++++++++++

PR debacles are this Administrastion's forté. Where have you been these last 7 years... in Guantánamo?

For those who care . . . . Tunisia's Etoile Sahel beats Pachuca setting up a semi final match against Boca . . . . let's hope next year it's DC UNITED v BOCA!

TOKYO (AP)-- Moussa Narry scored a late goal to lead Tunisia's Etoile Sahel to a 1-0 victory over Pachuca of Mexico in the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday to set up a semifinal against Boca Juniors of Argentina.

Narry fired in a long-range shot in the 85th minute that deflected off the arm of Pachuca defender Leobardo Lopez to secure a surprise victory for the African champions after the Mexicans had dominated the match.

Etoile plays South American champion Boca in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Italy's AC Milan faces the winner of Monday's match between Urawa Reds of Japan and Iran's Sepahan in the other semifinal at Yokohama on Thursday.

To say nothing of the local music scene ... afro-cuban rythyms man!

For every place that has been suggested "you can get to Cuba from" -- Canada, Cancun, etc. many people have been caught doing it. Easy to do maybe, but also easy to get caught.

If you don't like the embargo, you can complain to those twin paragons of virtue, John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, who started the embargo, and intensified it, repstively.

Yes, and we can thank Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush I and Bush II for not ending the embargo.

Yu can also thank the Castro boot-lickers now in control of the congress for not ending it, either.

Yes, and we can thank Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush I and Bush II for not ending the embargo.

Posted by: | December 11, 2007 09:52 AM
------------------------

You forgot Johnson and Carter.

Maybe we can compromise on this one. ICS will allow US fans to travel to Cuba as long as we say that we're there to rescue Elian Gonzalez.

Politics???? Please Goff, save us!!!!!

Also heard at eqpt sale from "friend of Jaime's" that he would probably take the money to play in MidEast. Can't blame him. A million is a lot more than he will see here or anywhere else. Good luck to him. I'll surely miss him but understand completely.
Now about that Gomez guy..

Yay political talk on SI!

I'm really not that upset - it's the WaPo; why shouldn't we expect it?

My feelings about the embargo aside (this isn't the place), I really wish USMNT supporters could go to the match.

Goffer, we love your blog and we love your articles, and admire your dedication, but take some time for your family, and entrust the blog to your capable deputy (the irreverent Dan Steinberg). When the time comes fifty plus years down the road, you won't be saying "gee, I wish I posted more blogs." Enjoy the holidays. A few days of futbol detox is good for the soul.

BTW, that would really hurt to lose BOTH Jaime and Gomito. Say it ain't so . . .

Re getting to cuba.

When I lived abroad for a few years some american friends of mine went to cuba a few times. Here is what they found out:

There are three ways you can get to cuba if you are an american(or at least there were three a few years ago):

1- you can get permission from Treasury in order to do business in Cuba that brings money into the U.S.

2- if you are of recent cuban descent. (this one might have changed)

3- If you are sponsored by a non american citizen.

Number 3 is the kicker. If you go down there with your German, or whatever, friend and your friend pays for you the entire time, you are golden. You just have to be able to prove that you didn't spend a penny while you were down there. The embargo only covers money, not people.

Also, you will not get your passport stamped unless you want it stamped. You get a 'floating Visa' for 10 or 15 euros which is a piece of paper that the cuban immigration people stamp for you. This is illegal, i believe.

Mr. Goff,

Is there any chance that RFK will be hosting a qualifier or two this time around?

Yes.

2018: I've been following it for a while, and it seems like it is being geared for a European country. Who Sepp Blatter meets with before his announcement, and in how he mentions the bids. I think they do want a competition, if only to make countries run through the hoops. So I agree with JOYFUL about the "we scratch your back" strategy. It worked for South Africa, and it will probably work for England in 2018.

Given that we have 2010 SA and 2014 Brazil, I predict...
2018 England
2022 Australia
2026 US
2030 Europe

What happened with CONCACAF and FIFA determining everything for the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying this past weekend?

will Ron Paul be president yet when the US plays at Cuba? If so getting there will be mighty easy.