If you’re wondering where the World Cup will be held in 2026, you’re not alone. There are already talks about New York City, Miami, Houston, Denver and more. But what about Mexico City and Brazil? Are these the best candidates for World Cup host cities? And should the host cities have to be from one of these cities? Read on to find out! After all, they’re all contenders, right? And if you’re hosting the World Cup, you might as well enjoy a good time while doing it.
New York City
The United States, Mexico and Canada have been selected to host the World Cup in 2026. The 48-team tournament will be played in cities throughout North America. FIFA selected sixteen host cities from a shortlist of 22. The selection committee considered the city’s infrastructure, sustainability, human rights, legacy, and general infrastructure, among other factors. New York City was chosen as the most suitable city for the 2026 World Cup.
The New York/New Jersey region is well-prepared for the World Cup. Five airports serve the region, and more hotels are planned. As the media, entertainment and culinary capital of the world, the region offers ample venues and amenities for soccer-related events. While the New York/New Jersey bid was successful, it has a lot to do with the city’s global population and diversity. A world-class stadium, a diverse population, and a robust infrastructure, are just some of the reasons why New York City is a great choice.
Miami
There’s a strong case for hosting the World Cup in Miami. The city has already hosted a soccer match – the Spanish El Clasico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in 2014. Likewise, it hosted a World Cup match between Brazil and Colombia, which was sold out and attended by nearly 75,000 fans. The World Cup is a huge event, and Miami is well-prepared to host it. A crowd of soccer fans is sure to fill the stadiums during the tournament.
The bid to host the World Cup is being led by Tommy Mulroy, a local soccer promoter and part of the 1994 bid. Miami is already home to 11 Super Bowls and a college football national championship. In contrast, the 2018 World Cup in Russia had a 3.57 billion television audience. Despite the potential financial challenges, Miami has a track record for hosting major events. A recent Formula 1 event in the city has increased demand for hotels and tickets.
Houston
The city has been working with FIFA to bring the World Cup to Houston in 2026. It has already been in the running for the 2026 tournament, and it is hoping to land the World Cup in one of the most exciting venues on the planet. Not only will the tournament attract millions of fans, but the city will also benefit from the high demand for local accommodations. Besides the World Cup, the city will be able to keep a large portion of its local hospitality workforce busy.
The city’s diverse population has been instrumental in its bid to land the World Cup. Among its other efforts, the Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee has spearheaded the Grow the Game initiative and plans to launch the Soccer Innovation Institute. The city has a long tradition of attracting soccer fans and has an active soccer scene, with several community and labor organizations in the area. With this support, it will be possible to attract world-class athletes to the city for the event.
Denver
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is just months away. Just recently, the city of Denver, Colorado, was announced as the host city. The stadium chosen to host the games is Empower Field. The stadium was previously proposed for the games, but FIFA ultimately decided on the same site. It would be the first World Cup to be held in the United States since 1994. The tournament began soccer’s popularity in the U.S. and Major League Soccer was launched around the same time. The 2026 World Cup will certainly add to soccer fever in the U.S.
In July, the United States, Mexico, and Canada were named to the bid committee. The bid committee then reduced the list to 16 cities. By October, the list had been whittled down to 32 cities. Then, on March 15, the FIFA announced the final 23 prospective host cities. Denver’s stadium hosted four Concacaf Nations League games last summer, including the final between the U.S. men’s national team and Mexico. It has also hosted Concacaf Gold Cup games.
Kansas City
In the past few years, the city has worked with the FIFA delegation to prepare the city for the World Cup 2026. However, the city’s soccer facilities have not been used for the big event in over a decade. Last year, a friendly game between Paraguay and Mexico took place at Arrowhead Stadium. Renovations forced the team to play in another venue. Now, however, the city is ready to host the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, and Kansas City was one of 16 cities that applied. At least five matches will be played in Arrowhead Stadium. KC Live! is hosting a World Cup watch party on Tuesday, with the announcement of the match taking place live. If Kansas City is selected, it will have at least five matches at the stadium, which is home to the Kansas City Chiefs. The stadium has been nicknamed the loudest stadium in the world.
Philadelphia
In order to bid on the hosting of the World Cup, Philadelphia has come together as a community. The region has a long history of soccer, having been the site of several collegiate and professional clubs during the early years of American soccer. This has led to many professional clubs flourishing in the Philadelphia area, which helped shape the game’s first “Golden Age” in the 1940s and 1950s. The World Cup will be a great opportunity to celebrate the city’s diverse nationalities and boost its diasporas.
Organizers of the 2026 World Cup chose Philadelphia after a competitive bid process. Philadelphia is one of 16 cities chosen to host the tournament, which will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The United States will host 60 of the 80 matches, with Mexico and Canada hosting the other ten. Philadelphia is one of the last remaining cities on the East Coast. The city has been battling other cities for years to host the event.
Washington D.C./Baltimore
Many United States soccer fans are disappointed with the city’s lack of selection for the World Cup 2026. Not only were D.C. and Baltimore passed over, but 16 other eastern cities were chosen as host cities. However, the region has been making moves to try and make itself attractive to World Cup organizers. Here’s a look at some of the local plans. If you’re interested in hosting the 2026 World Cup, the region has lots of potential.
Two of the cities are almost one metro area apart. The Baltimore bid would have used the stadium that is home to the NFL’s Ravens. However, recent problems with the stadium have made D.C.’s bid more attractive. The District of Columbia bid, which included the RFK Stadium, has a much higher profile than the Baltimore bid. The World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams, compared to the current 32.
Dallas
When the World Cup comes to Texas, the city of Dallas is sure to be excited. The city’s parks are full of soccer players, soccer moms and fans. Youth soccer player Alex Barley is particularly excited. “The World Cup is like a Super Bowl,” he says. “You can’t wait to see the players, the fans, the atmosphere, and the atmosphere.”
The Dallas World Cup will host a total of 48 teams, 16 more than the 32 in Qatar. There will be four venues in Dallas, which is twice as many as in Qatar. The economic impact of the tournament is projected to be billions of dollars. The tournament will also feature the USMNT, which has several ties to Texas. The full roster of participating teams will be announced closer to the tournament. In addition to Texas, the tournament will also feature Mexico, Argentina, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.
Toronto
If FIFA has its way, the World Cup will be held in Canada in 2026, and Toronto is a prime candidate. The city will be the third to host the tournament, following Mexico and the United States in 1994. The first World Cup was held in Mexico in 1986. The cities chosen for the tournament were selected after extensive biding by sports organizations, including FIFA. A new bid is currently in process, with a deadline of June 2019.
The FIFA World Cup generates significant economic and cultural benefits for host cities and countries, and it raises their profile on the international stage. It is expected to aid Toronto’s long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as strengthen its multiculturalism and pride in diversity. In addition to bringing new international visitors to Toronto, the tournament will touch every neighborhood and build anticipation for the next four years.
