USA, Mexico And Canada Unveil Preliminary 49-Stadium List For 2026 World Cup Hosting Bid

The United States, Mexico and Canada unveiled on Tuesday their preliminary list of candidate host cities and stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as part of their joint bid to organize the tournament.

2026 FIFA World Cup news

The list includes 49 venues across 44 cities to host 80 games in the 48-nation competition. Earlier this year, FIFA officials voted to increase the number of teams competing in the World Cup from the current 32.

As part of the three countries’ joint bid, the U.S. is set to host 60 games, while Mexico and Canada would host ten games each.

The 37 stadiums in the U.S. include all 32 NFL teams’ stadiums except for the Buffalo Bills’ New Era Field.

The official bid for the 2026 World Cup by the United States, Mexico and Canada will be delivered to FIFA by the March 16, 2018, deadline and will face competition from Morocco, which announced a bid last week.

The final shortlist of hosting cities and candidates will be announced in late September. Those cities and 20-25 estimated stadiums will then have until January 2018 to make all necessary preparations for their hosting gig. The selected cities will have until Sept. 5 to submit their interest.

The United Bid Committee said Tuesday that “At least 12 locations could ultimately serve as official host cities.”

FIFA requires a capacity of 40,000 for most World Cup games, 60,000 for the semifinals and one of 80,000 for the opener and final, making the only possible venues in the list for those games those in Dallas, Los Angeles and New Jersey, as well as the less likely Washington, Jacksonville and Green Bay.

“The host cities included in our bid will be critical to its success, not only because of their facilities and ability to stage major events, but because they are committed to further developing the sport of soccer by harnessing the impact of hosting a FIFA World Cup,” UBC executive director John Kristick said. “We have had a great response so far and we’re looking forward to working closely with each city and determining the best venues for our official bid that we’ll submit next year.”

The last World Cup the U.S. hosted was in 1994. The U.S. also hosted the 2016 Copa America Centenario.

Here is the full list of potential host cities and stadiums for the 2026 World Cup for all three countries:

USA

37 stadiums in 34 markets

Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Baltimore, M&T Bank Stadium

Birmingham, Legion Field

Boston/Foxborough, Gillette Stadium

Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium

Chicago, Soldier Field

Cincinnati, Paul Brown Stadium

Cleveland, FirstEnergy Stadium

Dallas, Cotton Bowl

Dallas/Arlington, AT&T Stadium

Denver, Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Detroit, Ford Field

Green Bay, Lambeau Field

Houston, NRG Stadium

Indianapolis, Lucas Oil Stadium

Jacksonville, EverBank Field

Kansas City, Arrowhead Stadium

Las Vegas, Raiders Stadium

Los Angeles, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Los Angeles, LA Stadium at Hollywood Park

Los Angeles, Rose Bowl

Miami, Hard Rock Stadium

Minneapolis, US Bank Stadium

Nashville, Nissan Stadium

New Orleans, Mercedes-Benz Superdome

New York/New Jersey, MetLife Stadium

Orlando, Camping World Stadium

Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field

Phoenix/Glendale, University of Phoenix Stadium

Pittsburgh, Heinz Field

Salt Lake City, Rice-Eccles Stadium

San Antonio, Alamodome

San Diego, Qualcomm Stadium

San Francisco/San Jose, Levi’s Stadium

Seattle, CenturyLink Field

Tampa, Raymond James Stadium

Washington, D.C./Landover, FedEx Field

CANADA

Nine stadiums in seven markets

Calgary, McMahon Stadium

Edmonton, Commonwealth Stadium

Montreal, Stade Olympique

Montreal, Stade Saputo

Ottawa, TD Place Stadium

Regina, Mosaic Stadium

Toronto, Rogers Centre

Toronto, BMO Field

Vancouver, BC Place

MEXICO

Three stadiums in three markets

Guadalajara, Estadio Chivas

Mexico City, Estadio Azteca

Monterrey, Estadio Rayados

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 10: Sunil Gulati, (center) president of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), Canadian CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani (left) and Mexican Football Federation President Decio De Maria hold up a signed unified bid for the 2026 soccer world cup on April 10, 2017 in New York City. Canada, the United States and Mexico launched their bid to co-host the 2026 World Cup at a news conference atop the Freedom Tower in lower Manhattan. The leaders of the three country’s soccer federations are seeking to host the first World Cup with an expanded 48-nation field. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena

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