Kansas City bid to host 2026 World Cup

Article by Coliseum, published August 13, 2020

Image: visitkc.com

Kansas City (US) is inching closer to becoming a 2026 World Cup host city. City officials recently completed a virtual one-on-one presentation to FIFA and U.S. Soccer officials.

The next step in the process is venue visits by FIFA officials to each of the proposed host cities and stadiums, with a final selection expected sometime in 2021. In line with FIFA’s policy to follow the recommendations of the health authorities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which is still striking the world hard, particularly the United States, visits to all cities will take place whenever it is safe to do so. The FIFA administration will then submit a proposal to the FIFA Council, which is set to appoint the FIFA World Cup 2026™ host cities in 2021.

Kansas City is one among 17 cities in the US that have thrown hat into the World Cup games’ ring. The event will be held throughout North America, with sites also going to Canada and Mexico.

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The 2026 World Cup will be the first such fixture with 48 teams and 80 games. In the United States, 10 stadiums for 60 games will be selected. Mexico and Canada will each have three host cities and 10 games apiece.

Sites in Canada (Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto) and Mexico (Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey) have already been determined.

Joining Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium as US host-site finalists are Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

The Kansas City bid team includes State and local officials from Missouri and Kansas, Sporting KC, the Chiefs, VisitKC, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the United Soccer Coaches organization, Heartland Soccer Association and the Kansas City Sports Commission, led by the President and CEO Kathy Nelson.

“We presented a strong, cohesive vision that demonstrates Kansas City’s experience hosting major sporting events as well as our ability to unite an entire region around those events,” Nelson said.

“Kansas City has demonstrated a strong commitment to growing the game of soccer and hosting World Cup matches in 2026 would allow us to cement our legacy as the soccer capital of America,” Nelson added.

“Kansas City is perfectly positioned in the heart of North America to welcome the world and our bid’s vision is to unite our region around this momentous occasion,” said Sporting Kansas City President and CEO Jake Reid.

“Today was another important opportunity to showcase our region as a thriving destination with incredible support for soccer as we take the next step in bringing the World Cup to the Midwest,” Reid added.

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