Originally published October 20, 2009 at 8:20 PM | Page modified October 20, 2009 at 9:11 PM

NW Briefs

City council endorses Seattle World Cup bid

The Seattle City Council on Monday passed a resolution supporting the city's effort to become one of the host cities for World Cup soccer matches in 2018 or 2022.

In August, Seattle was named one of 27 cities being considered to host World Cup matches should the World Cup come to the U.S. in 2018 or 2022.

Seattle's bid included both 67,000-seat Qwest Field and 72,500-seat Husky Stadium as potential venues, as well as four training sites, including the University of Washington soccer stadium, Seattle University soccer stadium, Starfire Sports Complex and Virginia Mason Athletic Center, where the Seahawks train.

At Monday's council meeting, president Richard Conlin said the cities will be narrowed to 18 semifinalists by the end of year and it will be years before the selection is announced.

He said each city will host four matches. The U.S. last hosted the World Cup in 1994.

"This looks to be economically positive," said Conlin, "but we're not committing ourselves. There will be a full economic analysis before we make a commitment."

Conlin said what makes Seattle unique is there is no need to build new stadiums.

"We have the stadiums in place," said Ralph Morton, executive director of the Seattle Sports Commission, which is working on Seattle's bid. "We have the hotels and the stadiums and the passion and fan base to make a great host city."

Golf

• Seattle University's women placed third and the men were fourth in the Vikes Shootout in Victoria, B.C. Caitlin McCleary finished fifth for the Redhawks.

• Claire Rachor and Katie Sharpe finished one-two, leading Western Washington to its second title in three years at the Sonoma State Invitational women's tournament in Santa Rosa, Calif. In the men's tournament, WWU tied for third and the Vikings' Xavier Dailly, the first-round leader, finished fourth.

Times staff reporter Susan Gilmore contributed to this report.

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