FIFA will announce its host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 16, with the three Canadian options Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver waiting to hear their name.
A total of 22 candidate cities have raised their hands to host matches for the expanded men’s tournament with 48 teams, which will host the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While the number of host cities was initially set at 16, FIFA’s director general of tournaments and events said the final number had not been set.
“We will end these visits and then decide which is the best number we need to host the tournament,” Colin Smith said during a visit to Toronto last November.
The announcement will be made at a press conference in New York.
US options include Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York / New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington / Baltimore.
The candidate cities for Mexico are Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterey.
“In line with the previous stages of the FIFA 2026 World Cup selection process, each announcement will be made in the best interests of football, taking into account the needs of all stakeholders, as we strive to lay the foundations for the tournament. to be delivered successfully in all three countries, “said Victor Montagliani of Vancouver, FIFA’s vice-president and president of CONCACAF.
“We can only reiterate our gratitude to all the cities and the three member associations for their efforts and commitment to this process.
FIFA selected North America’s bid to co-host in June 2018, marking the first time three counties have come together to host a men’s football event.
The original plan called for Canada and Mexico to host 10 games each with the other 60 in the United States, including all of the quarterfinals onwards.
One possible scenario for the tournament would be a triple blow on the opening day with matches in Toronto, Mexico City and a place in the United States.
Montreal dropped out last August after the Quebec government withdrew its support, citing cost overruns that would be difficult to justify to taxpayers. He was replaced in April by Vancouver, which made an initial offer in 2017, then withdrew in 2018, with Prime Minister John Horgan citing the unknown cost of hosting the event.
The provincial government changed its decision last summer with Melanie Mark, Britain’s tourism, arts, culture and sports minister, saying the event would be hosted as a one-generation opportunity for football fans and the province’s tourism sector.
Vancouver hosted nine matches during the 2015 Women’s World Cup, including the final, which attracted more than 50,000 fans. Edmonton also hosted the 2015 Games.
Toronto was not part of the Women’s World Cup in 2015, but instead hosted the Pan American Games.
BMO Field will need to be expanded to reach FIFA’s minimum capacity of 40,000 and more. Toronto FC President Bill Manning says the plans have already been presented as part of Toronto’s bidding process.
The Major League Football Club is owned by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which also owns Maple Leafs, Raptors, Argonauts and Marlies.
“The stadium will be temporarily expanded,” Manning said on Friday. “One of the things we will still look at as a company is the demand to keep it there, maybe after the World Cup.
“Over the next five years, part of our plan is to grow TFC. And the coming of the World Cup here is such a big focus for us and the city. I just think it will be not only in Toronto, but I think it will be great for sports in Canada when we have the opportunity to host the best teams and the best players in the world. BMO Field will be a big part of that. “
The extension will be at the northern and southern ends of the lake’s coastal stadium. BMO Field’s temporary stands allowed 40,148 to attend the Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings in January 2017.
A FIFA delegation visits all candidate cities to watch Canadians defeat CONCACAF Mexico 2-1 before a announced crowd of 44,212 at the Commonwealth Snow Stadium last November
Seventeen American stadiums in 16 districts remain in the candidate city for 2026, with the Los Angeles region presenting both the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the venue for the 1994 World Cup final.
Chicago, Minneapolis and Arizona dropped out in March 2018 because city officials said they were burdensome financial demands from FIFA. At the time, Charlotte, North Carolina; Las Vegas; Salt Lake City; and Tampa, Florida, were cut off. FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, retired in April.
Candidate cities and stadiums
CANADA
Edmonton, Commonwealth Stadium; Toronto, BMO Field; Vancouver, BC Place Stadium.
MEXICO
Guadalajara, Estadio Akron; Mexico City, Azteca Stadium; Monterey, BBVA Stadium.
US
Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium; Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Baltimore, M&T Bank Stadium; Cincinnati, Paul Brown Stadium; Denver, Empower Field at Mile High; East Rutherford, New Jersey, MetLife Stadium; Foxborough, Massachusetts, Gillette Stadium; Houston, NRG Stadium; Inglewood, California, SoFi Stadium; Kansas City, Missouri, Arrowhead Stadium; Miami Gardens, Florida, Hard Rock Stadium; Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan Stadium; Orlando, Florida, Camping World Stadium; Pasadena, CA, Rose Bowl; Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field; Santa Clara, CA, Levi Stadium; Seattle, Lumen Field.
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With files from the Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 20, 2022.
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