2026 World Cup Host cities are official

Canada

• Toronto (BMO Field)
• Vancouver (BC Place)

 

USA

• Boston (Gillette Stadium)
• New York (MetLife Stadium)
• Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
• Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
• Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
• Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium)
• Dallas (AT&T Stadium)
• Houston (NRG Stadium)
• Seattle (Lumen Field)
• San Francisco (Levi's Stadium)
• Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium)

Mexico

• Mexico City (Estadio Azteca)
• Monterrey (Estadio BBVA)
• Guadalajara (Estadio Akron)

Cities who missed out:

• Denver (Mile High Stadium)
• Edmonton (Commonwealth Stadium)
• Cincinnati (Paul Brown Stadium)

• Baltimore (M&T Bank Stadium)

• Orlando (Camping World Stadium)

• Nashville (Nissan Stadium)

Kansas City holy f*ck.

 

A suburban stadium with nothing around, terrible public transit, a crappy airport miles from Arrowhead, lack of hotel rooms.

 

 

 

 

Just now, snakebite said:

Kansas City holy f*ck.

 

A suburban stadium with nothing around, terrible public transit, a crappy airport miles from Arrowhead, lack of hotel rooms.

 

I'm not shocked about Kansas City. Boston is the only one that really surprised me. Robert Kraft must have had a lot of sway as the leader of the 2026 United bid. I don't think many people expected them to get games.

Just now, ryanlammi said:

 

I'm not shocked about Kansas City. Boston is the only one that really surprised me. Robert Kraft must have had a lot of sway as the leader of the 2026 United bid. I don't think many people expected them to get games.

KC being on an island geographically helped them, plus the lack of a decent bid from big cities in the Midwest like Chicago and Minneapolis. It would have been the last city I'd have selected out of every single one however. Unless they somehow build a rail link out there in four little years (and the Royals seem to be leaving for Downtown) I can just picture the circus now of 20k England, Germany, Italy fans etc scrambling for ubers in the middle of suburban Missouri.

 

It's only an 8 mile 15 minute drive from downtown KC to Arrowhead.

It's a 28 mile 45 minute drive from downtown Boston to Gillette.

22 minutes ago, ryanlammi said:

It's only an 8 mile 15 minute drive from downtown KC to Arrowhead.

It's a 28 mile 45 minute drive from downtown Boston to Gillette.

I'd agree the Boston bid was also not strong because of where Foxborough is comparative to the city itself (would have actually went with Baltimore over Boston, the DC bid was a sh*tshow), but its still associated with a much more notable city, with a world class hub airport with tonnes of international flights, plus its well positioned on the east coast to get there from Europe etc.

 

Foxborough also at least has a rail link to Boston as well and theres development of some sort within the vicinity to keep fans occupied (Patriot Place). Arrowhead is just a sea of asphalt in a city with piss poor infrastructure - I went there in 2019 and within the area you have two dinghy hotels, a gas station and a taco bell - I waited an hour for an uber after the game because of the pile of up of traffic trying to get out. Its designed for tailgating and nothing else. You could probably say the same for Cincinnati for example in terms of infrastructure, but it at least has scheduled transatlantic flight service and the stadium is in Downtown not Blue Ash which mitigates some of the issues it would have experienced. 

 

 

Edited June 16, 20222 yr by snakebite

I get Boston, especially given Krafts role and he could have his thumb on the scale a bit. 
 

I also get KC over Cincy. KC has been relevant in soccer since the 90s and has been a go to city for US soccer for a long time. Cincy is not there yet but rapidly emerging. 
I would have been bummed if Nashville got the bid over Cincy. 
 

Hopefully we get a good team or two for a base camp and get some FIFA friendlies and continue to grow on the national soccer scene

The ultimate Big 10/SEC rivalry would have been one of the other paying off FIFA to host ALL of their games at either Big 10 or SEC stadiums.  

So I can find it later. Great song! Great video!

 

 

More Info coming out about “Base Camp” Host Cities for WorldCup Teams, Cincinnati and others listed.

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/2024/06/14/fifa-9-cities-in-the-running-to-be-team-base-camp-during-world-cup/74089782007/

I wouldn't be surprised at all

 

 

18 minutes ago, KJP said:

I wouldn't be surprised at all

 

 

 

Trump is horrible but little to no chance FIFA would move the World Cup out of the states, it’s a year away. Not only would it be horrific logistically for FIFA, Trump retaliation would be vicious. I’m sure he would also attempt to pull Team USA. It would be a mess. It’s not even worth the trouble if I’m FIFA. 

Edited April 21Apr 21 by 646empire

^^   

 

1) Two things to keep in mind in the current politically charged environment are overzealousness in an effort to seek favor, and malicious compliance.   Outlier events should be evaluated according to long term disposition and recurrence.   He's often called stupid but this is a mistake.   He is not, the people around him are less so.

 

2) Pulling the cup would not only infuriate him, but one of the two major political forces in the world's most powerful nation.   It would greatly inhibit the growth of soccer in the USA as anything other than a sport for kids.   Conversely, he is a very skilled marketer and will use the Cup as a way to enhance the image of the USA, and by extension himself.   This would also boost the relevance of the sport here.   

 

3).   While this case was an aberration that will have to be addressed long term through policy and should be addressed long term through reconciliation, there is a very real security threat here.   As it provides a chance to make us look good, it also can be seen as an opportunity for malignant actors to attempt to do the opposite.

1. Trump is an idiot.

 

2. Trump is not a skilled marketer. He is a skilled manipulator to the easily manipulated.

 

3. At last I agree.

FIFA wouldn't abandon the World Cup in the US. They're going to Saudi Arabia in 2034.

 

Anyone telling you they're thinking about it is lying. I do think travel for the World Cup will be lower than pre-trump estimates because of the legitimate fear of false imprisonment and deportation. 

1 hour ago, ryanlammi said:

FIFA wouldn't abandon the World Cup in the US. They're going to Saudi Arabia in 2034.

 

Anyone telling you they're thinking about it is lying. I do think travel for the World Cup will be lower than pre-trump estimates because of the legitimate fear of false imprisonment and deportation. 

I am currently working in Europe and can confirm that my colleagues here are definitely re-thinking any upcoming travel to the states, mainly due to the stories of visas being revoked over social media criticism of Trump.   

6 minutes ago, Cleburger said:

I am currently working in Europe and can confirm that my colleagues here are definitely re-thinking any upcoming travel to the states, mainly due to the stories of visas being revoked over social media criticism of Trump.   

 

I hate this for all the midwestern cities who try to lure overseas airlines with incentives for one flight.  The next four years is going to be extremely tough to keep those flights without taxpayer $$$.

3 hours ago, E Rocc said:

It would greatly inhibit the growth of soccer in the USA as anything other than a sport for kids.

This is a bit much to say the least LOL. I think the country is definitely starting to pick up trumps personality of “hyper talk”. 

Yeah lol at anyone thinking FIFA of all corporations gives a s**t about anything political.  The current climate will likely cause less fans to travel to the US for games which will cost the country a bunch of money.  But it will probably make getting tickets easier and cheaper for us who already live here. 

I mean, they did just hold the last World Cup in a country not 100% noted for tolerance and welcoming outsiders.

FIFA is the devil. 

Will get a bit of a dry run with this years FIFA Club World Cup. German Giant Bayern Munich and others heading to Cincinnati. Will allow them to test some logistics for 2026.

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/2024/12/07/tql-stadium-in-cincinnati-to-host-4-2025-club-world-cup-matches/76839554007/

 

https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/club-world-cup

On 4/21/2025 at 8:35 AM, ryanlammi said:

FIFA wouldn't abandon the World Cup in the US. They're going to Saudi Arabia in 2034.

 

 

Soccer remains a second tier sport in the USA for a number of reasons, prominent among them is the idea that it's "foreign".

 

The 1994 World Cup dispelled this idea to a point and led to a tremendous increase in its popularity, albeit not quite enough to raise it to the level of certain other sports.   Including one which soccer evangelists insist on using the commonly recognized name of (here), which does it a lot more harm than good.

 

2026 could boost this further.   On the other hand, FIFA pulling the games out of the USA at the behest of foreigners would brand it as a less-than-American sport for at least another generation.

I don't even know what that second paragraph was trying to say.

 

FIFA won't remove the US as a host nation. It isn't happening, so let's drop any what ifs about it. 

Soccer?  Foreign?  Have any of you played CYO soccer???  I assure you, it isn't thought of as "foreign" by anyone.  The term "Soccer Mom" doesn't equate to wearing a hijab for literally anyone, including Muslims.

2 hours ago, E Rocc said:

Soccer remains a second tier sport in the USA for a number of reasons, prominent among them is the idea that it's "foreign".

Wait’ll this guy hears about who the Brooklyn Dodgers signed. 

14 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

Soccer?  Foreign?  Have any of you played CYO soccer???  I assure you, it isn't thought of as "foreign" by anyone.  The term "Soccer Mom" doesn't equate to wearing a hijab for literally anyone, including Muslims.

 

At an adult level, it's still a second tier sport in the US.

14 hours ago, Gordon Bombay said:

Wait’ll this guy hears about who the Brooklyn Dodgers signed. 

 

Ummmm.....really?

 

Guess the "no politics" tag has gone multi-ideological.

33 minutes ago, E Rocc said:

 

Ummmm.....really?

 

Guess the "no politics" tag has gone multi-ideological.

Unlike yourself, my “no politics” tag is voluntary. And even with the ignore feature, I occasionally still come across your Facebook-style posts in other threads. 

 

You and @Lazarus should join me for a soccer game sometime here in Cincinnati. I’ll even buy the first two rounds so you guys can see there’s nothing to fear from the “foreign” sport of soccer or its fans. 
 

And that’s a genuine offer to both of you. 
 

 

Edited April 23Apr 23 by Gordon Bombay

2 hours ago, E Rocc said:

 

At an adult level, it's still a second tier sport in the US.

 

Hockey is also a second tier sport in the US.  I'm assuming you don't think that's "foreign."

44 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

 

Hockey is also a second tier sport in the US.  I'm assuming you don't think that's "foreign."

 

Not really.  The top tier is football, baseball, hockey, basketball, and if one considers it a sport (I do) NASCAR.

2 hours ago, Gordon Bombay said:

Unlike yourself, my “no politics” tag is voluntary. And even with the ignore feature, I occasionally still come across your Facebook-style posts in other threads. 

 

You and @Lazarus should join me for a soccer game sometime here in Cincinnati. I’ll even buy the first two rounds so you guys can see there’s nothing to fear from the “foreign” sport of soccer or its fans. 
 

And that’s a genuine offer to both of you. 
 

 

 

Truth is I almost went to the Messi game this weekend.   Kelly's kids play and LM is her son's second favorite, but they are moving soon and we decided not to spend the money.

 

Went to a few indoor games BITD, to me that version suited America's sports preferences much better.

 

Even though I went to the only Greater Cleveland Conference HS that didn't have a soccer team (and AFAIK never has) and even though my niece played CYO football not soccer, I don't necessarily hate the sport or consider it irrelevant.   My point was that FIFA pulling the games out of the USA because of Trump would not only ruin a chance to boost its profile in the US (as 1994 did) it would damage it here.

1 hour ago, E Rocc said:

 

Not really.  The top tier is football, baseball, hockey, basketball, and if one considers it a sport (I do) NASCAR.

 

The NHL is absolutely below the NBA in terms of both exposure and revenue (except in Canada). Even MLS regularly (but not consistently) can pull stronger viewership numbers than premier standalone NHL games on major channels (and the EPL does it without blinking).

 

American Motorsports (Indy/NASCAR) are now easily behind MLS in terms of main stream exposure and both are well behind Formula 1 even in their own category. NASCAR, in particular, has taken a consistent and steep downturn in both viewership and attendance since 2005. 

 

It is incredibly unlikely that FIFA would pull out of the US at this point. There are far too many resources, logistics, and funds involved now. They were happy to overlook Putin in 2018 and didn't bat an eye at Qatar using slave labor in 2022. If anything, the Trump/Vance/Miller political clime in the United States is right up their alley. 

Edited April 23Apr 23 by Gordon Bombay

2 hours ago, E Rocc said:

 

Not really.  The top tier is football, baseball, hockey, basketball, and if one considers it a sport (I do) NASCAR.

 

Hockey and NASCAR are certainly not top tier sports.  If so, a market like Atlanta or Houston would have a hockey team.  Hockey isn't popular in most areas of the US except for legacy NHL cities, extreme cold states like Michigan & Minnesota, and randomly Tampa.  And NASCAR, no.  It isn't even popular in Ohio.  The neighboring Kentucky Speedway is now an auto-garage.