CONCACAF president Jack Warner made headlines while he was in the South American nation inspecting the various venues that are planning on being used for next year's U-20 World Cup.

Outside of being his usual self, he did everything in his power to enamor the Colombian media. He masterfully mixed his diplomatic skills with Don King-like faux jingoism.

He repeatedly mentioned that Colombia was like "a second home" to him and that he felt "safer walking in the streets" there than in his "home country". In a press conference in Bogota about the possibility of using these resources to prepare for "another international tournament" down the road.

"In 2014, the World Cup will be in Brazil. Twelve years later the World Cup will once again be for South America. I think this will be a good start for Colombia in order to place a bid for the 2026 World Cup as they will have first class venue by then," Warner said.

The FIFA vice-president went to South America and met with Colombian vice-president and presidential candidate Francisco Santos, Minister of Culture María Araujo, and officials from the Colombian Football Federation (FeDeFut). He inspected along with a group of FIFA officials six different venues that would be hosting the U-20 World Cup next year.

"Cartagena will be a venue,"said Warner after seeing the remodeling that has gone on in that city's stadium. He did confirm that the final will be played in Bogota as that venue was the only one that placed itself in the running for that match. The tournament opener is still to be decided as there are six venues in the running, which include Bogota, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Manizales.

There are still lots of question marks as to how prepared the country is overall as there are still lots of infrastructure issues that have not been attended to with only one year left until the event.

Another issue that is being discussed is the possibility of having nine venues instead of the seven that FIFA requires. Delegates from FeDeFut will travel at the end of the week to Zurich to plea their case.

Colombia has the dubious distinction of being the only country in football history to be given the World Cup bid only to back out in 1985. That edition of the world's biggest sporting event would be hosted by Mexico a year later.