FIFA has completed its inspection of potential World Cup 2026 venues. Sixteen cities from three different countries in North America will host the event. World Cup is that time where all the Premier Leagues and Champions Leagues take a pause to enjoy players’ pure passion for their countries. The United States bid won over a rival bid by Morocco during the final vote. While it has happened for the first time since 2002 that more than one nation is hosting the FIFA World Cup.
There will be a record 48 teams participating in the tournament expanding from the previous 32 teams. Including the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, there will be 60 matches played. The United States of America, Mexico, and Canada will co-host the FIFA World Cup 2026. Both Mexico and Canada will host 10 matches each while the latter will be played in the USA. Moreover, the United States hasn’t hosted a World Cup since 1994 wheres Mexico will be the first country to host or co-host the men’s World Cup three times. Meanwhile, Canada will be hosting or co-hosting a World Cup for the first time in history.
What FIFA drew for World Cup 2026 from their final visit to Toronto?
FIFA visited 22 cities and 23 venues and a delegation will now send a report from which 16 hosts will be chosen. However, the number 16 is not concrete as per FIFA’s chief tournaments and events officer Colin Smith. The final decision about the hosts lies up to FIFA as 16 was just a part of the presentation. Colin Smith mentioned the time of announcement as,
“We haven’t set the exact time yet but I suspect it will be more likely April than March.”
From Canada, Toronto and Edmonton are two cities bidding for games whereas Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City are the Mexican candidates. The potential candidates from the United States are Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, the San Franciso bay area, Seattle, and Washington D.C. The FIFA delegation inspected everything from infrastructure to stadiums and practice facilities. They were also very happy with the presentations and stated that it has made their decision harder.
Vancouver also expressed their interest late in being included. Although the CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president, Victor Montagliani was not happy with the late suggestion. Nonetheless, he was happy with Toronto’s pitch calling it “very thorough and excellent.” Montreal was also a candidate as one of the hosts but withdrew in July.
Following the news conference on Monday, the FIFA delegation paid a visit to BMO Field. If chosen, temporary seating would be installed to bring the lakefront stadium up to FIFA’s minimum capacity of 45,000 people.
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