‘26 World Cup US host cities (Speculation)

[LateToCult 28,005]

There’s a well known sports journalist that did some calling around to find out what US cities FIFA is thinking of selecting to host games for the 2026 World Cup that will be held in Mexico, Canada, and the US.

FIFA has already visited all contending cities and will (maybe) announce their picks in June. They’ve moved the date twice now.

According to his sources there are four American cities that seem to be a lock:

 

Greater New York City / New Jersey

CSA Population: 23,582,649

Tea: Heavily favored to hold the final
 

Greater Los Angeles

CSA Population: 18,644,680

 

Tea: May hold the opening game. In contention for that honor with Mexico City.

 

Greater Atlanta

CSA Population: 6,930,423

Tea: May hold a semi-final game.

 

Greater Dallas-Fort Worth

CSA Population: 8,121,108

—

Favoured Cities:

 

San Francisco Bay Area

CSA Population: 9,714,023

 

Greater Houston 

CSA Population: 7,312,270

 

Greater Philadelphia:

CSA Population: 7,379,700

 

Tea: Philadelphia’s committee has raised more money than any other candidate city.

 

Greater Miami

CSA Population:  6,868,652

Tea: Favored over Orlando as a Florida location but not a certain pick because of other events in the city that year.

 

Greater Kansas City

CSA Population: 2,528,644

 

Greater Seattle 

CSA Population: 4,953,421

 

 

Boston, DC/Baltimore, and Orlando are not shut out yet and could replace one of these cities. Denver and Cincinnati were underwhelming bids and it’s likely that FIFA considers them out.

 

Mexico’s cities have been locked from the beginning: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey.

Canada has seen some flux. Toronto should be a lock. Edmonton is likely but apparently they didn’t like it. Montreal pulled out but Vancouver threw its hat in very late in the game and may take its place.

The source is Grant Wahl’s Fútbol with Grant Wahl. I didn’t add a link because it requires a subscription. 

[bionic 26,156]

If it is a joint Mexico/Canda/US hosting and the US hosts all of the landmark games then the co-hosting is a joke lol

[LateToCult 28,005]

6 minutes ago, bionic said:

If it is a joint Mexico/Canda/US hosting and the US hosts all of the landmark games then the co-hosting is a joke lol

It really comes down to venue and how impressed FIFA was by each city. Doesn’t seem like the cities outside the US (except Mexico City) really wowed them.
 

RIP Edmonton that was apparently so boring sources explicitly pointed out that they didn’t like it and is only likely to get games because they already said 3 Canadian cities. 

Edited May 6 by LateToCult

[RAMROD 77,856]

2 hours ago, LateToCult said:

It really comes down to venue and how impressed FIFA was by each city. Doesn’t seem like the cities outside the US (except Mexico City) really wowed them.
 

RIP Edmonton that was apparently so boring sources explicitly pointed out that they didn’t like it and is only likely to get games because they already said 3 Canadian cities. 

Is Canada really that bland? That is surprising

[LateToCult 28,005]

4 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

Is Canada really that bland? That is surprising

It’s not that they’re bland. I’m guessing their committees just didn’t put much effort into their bids. They knew they were probably gonna get 3 Canadian cities and at the time only Toronto, Edmonton, and Montreal were in the running. The US on the other hand had 16 cities competing for 10 slots so they had to get more creative to excite FIFA officials.