We’re in the endgame when it comes to the FIFA World Cup 2026 locations, with a June 16 announcement scheduled for the North American stadium selections.
The World Cup 2026 competition will be historic: It will be held across three nations (United States, Canada and Mexico), and it will be the largest competition, with 48 countries participating.
The finalist cities: Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Edmonton, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington DC/Baltimore. Some of the markets are slam dunks (New York/New Jersey, Washington DC/Baltimore, Los Angeles, Toronto), others will require venue expansions to meet FIFA guidelines. It will be interesting to see how many NFL stadiums will play host to 2026 matches.
In the past venues were basically selected on the basis of capacity, followed by financial considerations. For 2026, the selection process is said to be a more nuanced process: FIFA reps say proposals are broader in nature and also include ancillary events and venues, and key aspects such as sustainability, human rights, legacy, general infrastructure and financial impact are also part of the decision making.
“In line with the previous stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026 selection process, any announcement will be made in the best interests of football, taking into consideration the needs of all stakeholders involved, as we aim to lay the foundations for the tournament to be delivered successfully across all three countries,” said FIFA Vice-President and Concacaf President Victor Montagliani via press release.
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