The World Cup, the biggest event in sports, save for maybe the Olympics, might make an appearance in Ann Arbor.

Yeah, there's still a lot of hurdles for the bids for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups to go through - like the United States actually securing the bid - but Michigan Stadium was one of 32 stadiums to make the cut as potential hosts if the U.S. gets the bid.

"That's tremendous news for not only our program, but our athletic department, our university, our city," Michigan men's soccer coach Steve Burns said. "It'd further put Ann Arbor on the world stage here because it's such a massive event. It's bigger than the Olympics."

The last time the World Cup visited the United States, it was held almost exclusively in NFL stadiums. Yet this time around, four stadiums used primarily for college football made the 32-stadium cut. And that's not including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and the LA Coliseum in Los Angeles, both of which also made the initial cut.

Not every college stadium, though, made the cut.

"You know what's great about it, too," Burns said. "There were 45 stadiums cut down to 32 and you know who didn't make the cut? Ohio State. They're out. We're the only stadium left in the Big Ten right now."

Burns thinks it's a realistic possibility that Ann Arbor could make the final cut, too. He cited the proximity to a major international airport in Detroit/Wayne County along with the seating capacity of Michigan Stadium (108,000) as attractive options.

Plus, weather in Michigan in June and July is not as scorching as in the South, where it could reach triple digits plus humidity.

"I'm excited by it," Burns said. "I truly believe reading between the lines that the stadiums that get the call are going to be the biggest and we're right there as the biggest right now. We've got a great shot as long as we continue to put forth what we need to with the bidding process."

He's not the only one excited about it.

When making the cut was mentioned to Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez before practice Thursday, it seemed like he hadn't heard of it, but thought it'd "be great." After all, it could give him - or whoever the Michigan coach is at the time - a chance to maybe find a kicker.

"They have some pretty talented soccer players that can kick that ball a long ways," Rodriguez said. "If any of 'em are interested in changing sports, I'd be all in for that. Talented guys.

"They can't do it with their head, though. They have to do it with their foot."

BEST GOALS IN WORLD CUP HISTORY:

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for annarbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or on Twitter @mikerothstein.