The 2026 World Cup has found its home: North America.
On Wednesday, member associations of world soccer’s governing body FIFA overwhelmingly voted in support of a combined hosting bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada (dubbed the “United Bid”) — sending the largest FIFA World Cup in history to America for the first time in 32 years.
So what swayed voters? Likely North America’s pledge of $14 billion in revenue and $11 billion in profits for FIFA, which FIFA says will be shared among the 211 member associations so that they can “further develop and expand the game of football across the globe.” Additionally, the 16 stadiums that will be used across all three continents all already exist and require no additional construction costs.
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The World Cup was previously held in America in 1994. Canada has never hosted, while Mexico previously welcomed the event in 1970 and 1986.
Of the 80 matches scheduled for the World Cup across the 23 candidate host cities, 60 of them will be held in the United States including all of the games from the quarterfinals onward and the highly anticipated finale, which will be at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. The remaining 20 matches will be split evenly between Canada and Mexico.
Over 1,100 players are expected, all who will train across the 150 proposed training sites.
“Hosting a FIFA World Cup is an extraordinary honor and privilege,” Steven Reed, president of Canada Soccer and co-chair of the United Bid, said as well. “Canada, Mexico, and the United States are ready to welcome the world to North America and serve as stewards of the largest FIFA World Cup in history. Our vision is of a world of opportunity for our Candidate Host Cities and for the global football community.”
Added Decio de Maria, president of Mexico Football Federation and co-chair of the United Bid: “We are grateful for the chance to bring to life FIFA’s new vision for the future of football. Together-in partnership with our Candidate Host Cities, the Member Associations, and FIFA-we will use this platform to unite the world around football and help create a new and sustainable blueprint for the future of FIFA World Cups.”
source: people.com
