NEW YORK. Oct 9: Perhaps nobody is looking forward to next year's World Cup more than Pele, who had a dream to bring the tournament to the United States nearly two decades ago. reports AP.

Considered by many as the greatest player in soccer history — now a goodwill ambassador for the sport as well as for his native Brazil — was campaigning for the United States to be hosts of the World Cup back In the 1970s.

"It Is very hard to describe now." Pele says. "When FIFA announced It had chosen the US. it was so nice to me. so gcxxi. I couldn't come up with words to describe my happiness.

"Everybody knows when I came to play with the Cosmos In '75. we started to work so hard to make soccer grow in the US. Then we started to work to bring the World Cup to the US and a lot of people didn’t believe In It. A~lot of newspapers started teasing us at that time, saying It was a Joke that the World Cup would come to the United States.

Not much of a joke, was it?

Today, it Is a reality," he says. 'This means a lot for me. I used to say It is my dream come true to have the World Cup here. Next June, my dream will be real.”

Pele Is not involved In the organisation of World Cup '94 and never has worked for a World Cup organising committee. although he Is an adviser to Japan's bld for the 2002 tournament. Pele's main role for next year's month-long event Is as a spokesman for Master-Card. a sponsor of the World Cup. He does serve, however, as an adviser to FIFA's rules committee and is chairman of its Fair Play Programme.

Pele doesn't think It's essential for the US team to fare well in the World Cup to be a suc-, cess. He'd like nothing better than to see a Brazil-United

States final, but he won't predict anything like that.

"I don't think they have an obligation to play well for the American people. That won't Just make the World Cup successful." he says. The American people want a show. If they see beautiful games, they don't care if It is the US or Brazil or Italy or England. They want to see a good show.

"But I think a lot of people will be surprised because the US team is going to play well. They proved this in Italy. They were in Italy to gain experience and now. four years after Italia '90. they have more experience. They have a new coach, players with experience playing in Italy. It is a much different situation. I think the people are going to be surprised."

He also believes the doubters in Europe and South America — and there are many who believe bringing the World Cup to the United States Is tantamount to heresy — will be surprised by the positive public response to the event.

"First of all. this is a new thing and the American people want a new show. This will be successful as a show, almost like the Olympic Games. Everybody in 1984 said the Olympic Games at Los Angeles would not get any crowds for the soccer, that the Americans don't like soccer, that they would only go to see swimming and the basketball.

"They were wrong because soccer was the spprt that got the most crowds." Pele said. "And... This now is professional soccer and ... The Olympics was amateur.

The other reason there should be no thoughts of the World Cup failing Is because In the United States, you have a lot of foreigners, a lot of people who know soccer and love soccer from Europe and Soffth America."

Pele believes that within a few days after the opening game In Chicago, ft will be clear to everyone that the World Cup "will be a tremendous party, with

great soccer."

"The people from the older (soccer) countries worry about what will happen." he says. "When you travel to their countries. they say they are worried, because they don't havt too much information. They worry about the money and the crowds.

We know It Is going to be successful and there are going to be big crowds,” he said.

Pele watched with great Interest as Brazil, which he led to three World Cup championships. struggled to make the final 24. The Brazilians lost a qualifying game for the first time and needed to beat Uruguay in the last game to ensure a spot in the field.

"In Brazil, they have big political problems and economic problems and than all the good players go to Europe to play for clubs.” he says. "So Brazil doesn't have the chance to put the team together and have them play together and practice:'We had three tournaments — US Cup. Copa America and qualification. We played in US Cup with one team, a month later In the Copa America with another team. and. one month later, they change the whole team to qualify.

"This is the problem. I think if Brazil has the chance to put the players together and train for 4-5 months.” we will be strong enough to be in the final of the World Cup."

Pele believes the key to Brazil’s success Is the availability of 27-ypgr-old striker Ro-marlo. who plays for FC Barcelona in the Spanish First Division.

"Of course, in the last game against Uruguay. Brazil brought Romario back for Spain. Romario was the best player in that game. If Romario can stay on the team, practice and train with the team, we will have a strong team in the World Cup." he said. "But if they do not have time to train or they do not bring In all the players to train and practice, may be Brazil will be in trouble."