22 other cities join Kansas City in final bid submission to FIFA
The Business of Soccer: Exciting times ahead as 23 great American cities bid for their part of the 5.8 million tickets projected by the United Bid to be sold for the FIFA World Cup in 2026, generating $2.1 billion in revenue. Los Angeles, Kansas City, New York/New Jersey are just a few of the cities in the running.
Soccer News: The epicenter of soccer in the heartlands — Kansas City — has been included as an official Candidate Host City in the United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup™.
The United Bid announced its list of 23 Candidate Host Cities that will be included in the Bid Book on March 15, 2018.
Hosting the World Cup in the USA again would give new height to America’s growing passion for soccer – the world’s beautiful game.
If the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ is awarded to the United Bid, FIFA will select up to 16 Host Cities from the proposed slate of 23.
Kansas City is part of the most comprehensive and far-reaching hosting strategy ever developed for a mega-sporting event.
“Kansas City is the absolute perfect place to host the World Cup Soccer tournament in 2026. This City is welcoming, inviting, it’s diverse, it’s rich in culture and rich in attitude,” said Kansas City, MO Mayor Sly James. “We’re known for our food, we’re known for our BBQ, we’re known for our jazz, but most of all we’re known for our people. They are the nicest people in our country.”
“Kansas City is the soccer capital of the United States and is the ideal place to host games during the 2026 World Cup. As a region, KC and KCK offer numerous world-class soccer facilities, from Children’s Mercy Park and the Pinnacle training facility in KCK to Arrowhead Stadium in KCMO,” said Mayor David Alvey, Kansas City, Kansas. “Being selected as part of the North American bid to host the World Cup shows what working together can accomplish. It also affirms the positive impacts of the economic development efforts the Unified Government has undertaken.”
“All of Kansas City should be proud that our community is officially in contention to serve as a host city for the biggest sporting event in the world. Highly acclaimed for our hospitality and perfectly positioned in the heart of North America, Kansas City’s modern amenities and accommodations strengthen the United Bid and provide a world-class experience for guests,” said Cliff Illig, Sporting Kansas City owner.
“The inclusion of Kansas City also showcases a strategic vision and a spirit of togetherness made possible by a coalition of leaders in multiple cities, states and municipal agencies. All of us involved in the local effort are delighted to support the United Bid and are committed to continuing our mission to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup to Kansas City.”
“Kansas City has served as the backdrop for some of the world’s greatest sporting events and we are thrilled to be a candidate to become a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said Clark Hunt, Chairman & CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Arrowhead is a “bucket list” destination for fans across all sports and we are confident it would be a tremendous environment for the world’s best soccer teams to showcase their talent. We are excited to be working closely together with this group of government and civic leaders who are determined to bring one of the world’s premier sporting events to Kansas City for all fans to enjoy.”
Canada, Mexico and the United States require no new stadium construction to stage the 2026 FIFA World Cup™.
Kansas City, along with the United Bid, will instead be able to work with FIFA to ensure the players, officials, and fans have an extraordinary experience at the largest FIFA World Cup™ ever staged.
Kansas City would host games in Arrowhead Stadium, offering an advanced and exciting stage on which the world’s best players could compete.
Across every metric, the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ in North America has the potential to deliver something extraordinary for all of North America, FIFA, and for soccer.
The United Bid’s final Candidate Host Cities are:
Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Washington DC.
The United Bid Committee was created by the National Federations of Canada, Mexico and the United States to manage the bidding process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™.
About The 2026 FIFA World Cup™
More Details:
The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will be the first tournament with the expanded 48-team format and will require world-class facilities and infrastructure to ensure a successful tournament. The United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States is uniquely suited to accommodate FIFA’s high-level standards for hosting a FIFA World Cup™.
If the United Bid is selected by FIFA as the host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, up to 16 Host Cities will be selected as venues for games. Canada, Mexico and the United States also have a long and successful history as hosts – 13 FIFA World Cups™ have been hosted in Canada, Mexico and the United States, five of which have set attendance records.
Source: Sporting KC Press Release
