Thursday is ready to be a large deal on this planet of football — and for 16 North American towns specifically— as FIFA are set to announce the host towns for the 2026 International Cup all the way through an match in NYC. Atlanta, after all, is within the operating, and is extensively anticipated to be one of the crucial towns to make the reduce having hosted numerous prestigious wearing occasions prior to now.
And a take a look at the checklist items iron-clad locks for some and slightly uncertainty for others. A number of of the U.S.-based applicants have been a part of the 1994 International Cup and stand to be a few of the towns selected, however what concerning the Canadian and Mexican bidders? 3 towns in every country are up for web hosting, and there are conflicting studies of all 6 bids being a hit or 2 in every. We’ll know needless to say come Thursday afternoon as FIFA unearths the websites.
In overall, 60 suits will likely be performed within the U.S., whilst Canada and Mexico will every host 10. Right here’s a listing of each and every candidate metropolis (click on right here if in case you have hassle viewing on a cell tool), along side what you want to understand forward of the development in New York Town (5pm ET, FS1/Telemundo Deportes):
2026 FIFA International Cup Candidate Towns
| Town | Stadium | Capability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town | Stadium | Capability | Notes |
| Atlanta | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 75,000 | Proposed semifinal host |
| Baltimore/Washington (joint bid) | M&T Financial institution Stadium (Baltimore)/FedEx Box (Landover) | 70,976 (M&T)/70,659 (FedEx) | 1994 FIFA International Cup host metropolis (RFK Stadium – Washington) |
| Boston (Foxborough) | Gilette Stadium | 70,000 | 1994 FIFA International Cup host metropolis (Foxborough Stadium) |
| Cincinnati | Paul Brown Stadium | 67,402 | |
| Dallas/Castle Price (Arlington) | AT&T Stadium | 92,967 | Proposed semifinal host; 1994 FIFA International Cup host metropolis (Cotton Bowl) |
| Denver | Empower Box at Mile Prime | 77,595 | |
| Edmonton | Commonwealth Stadium | 56,418 | |
| Guadalajara | Estadio Akron | 48,071 | |
| Houston | NRG Stadium | 72,220 | |
| Kansas Town | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,640 | |
| Los Angeles | Rose Bowl (Pasadena)/SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) | 88,432 (Rose Bowl)/as much as 100,240 (SoFi) | 1994 FIFA International Cup host metropolis (Rose Bowl) |
| Mexico Town | Azteca Stadium | 87,523 | |
| Miami | Onerous Rock Stadium | 67,518 | |
| Monterrey | BBVA Bancomer Stadium | 53,460 | |
| Montréal | Olympic Stadium | 55,822 | |
| Nashville | Nissan Stadium | 69,722 | |
| New York/New Jersey (E. Rutherford) | MetLife Stadium | 87,157 | Proposed ultimate host |
| Orlando | Tenting International Stadium | 65,000 | 1994 FIFA International Cup host metropolis (Foxborough Stadium) |
| Philadelphia | Lincoln Monetary Box | 69,328 | |
| San Francisco Bay House (Santa Clara) | Levi’s Stadium | 70,909 | 1994 FIFA International Cup host metropolis (Stanford Stadium) |
| Seattle | Lumen Box | 69,000 | |
| Toronto | BMO Box | 45,500 |
- So far as U.S.-based candidate towns, Atlanta, along side Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas/Castle Price, Denver, Houston, Kansas Town, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington/Baltimore are finalists. A minimum of 10 of the ones are anticipated to be picked. Boston, DFW, LA, NY/NJ, Orlando, and Washington (as a single-city bid) hosted suits for the 1994 International Cup, the final International Cup hung on North American soil.
- Consistent with the legitimate FIFA bid e-book, Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) and DFW (AT&T Stadium) have been beneficial to host the two semifinals, with FIFA bringing up “geographic location, trip distances, and stadium capability” as the explanation. MetLife Stadium out of doors of New York used to be beneficial for the overall because of the scale of the venue, resort availability, and the area’s standing as a big global trip hub. A snappy word: Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s gross capability is gifted as 75,000 for the needs of the bid, however the “forecasted capability” is ready to 65,085, which is the gross capability much less VIP and media seating. Atlanta and DFW have been additionally beneficial as possible hosts for the match’s Global Broadcast Middle (DFW hosted it in 1994), whilst the referee headquarters can be both in Dallas or Houston and both Dallas or NY/NJ web hosting the FIFA headquarters all the way through the development.
- For Fan Fest occasions, the United bid beneficial Centennial Olympic Park or Piedmont Park. Whilst Centennial Olympic Park is actually proper in entrance of MBS, Piedmont Park items a lot more house, but it surely’d be a gentle marvel for Centennial Olympic Park to host Atlanta’s Fan Fest.
- Mexico and Canada have 3 applicants every: Mexico Town, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, along side Vancouver, Edmonton, and Toronto, respectively. At first, it used to be anticipated all 6 would make the reduce, however the newest is that 2 from every nation would (leaving 12 U.S. towns as hosts).
So what’s going to FIFA come to a decision? Right here’s what I’m considering. Going off the newest buzz of two Canadian and Mexican towns having successful bids: Atlanta, DFW, Houston, LA, Miami, NY/NJ, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle within the U.S. So far as the opposite 3 U.S. websites, I believe Denver and Kansas Town gets selected, and perhaps Nashville. That’s indisputably not anything in opposition to Cincinnati and the Baltimore/Washington joint bid, even if I believe FIFA could also be slightly spooked via problems at FedEx Box in recent times; M&T indisputably is in higher form to host than FedEx. For Mexico, I feel Mexico Town and Monterrey will likely be decided on, and for Canada, Toronto and Vancouver (actually, studies are suggesting that is the case, with the two towns set to host 10 mixed suits). If all 3 Canadian and Mexican bidders are awarded, then Denver and KC will likely be scratched.
In any match, plan for International Cup football to be performed in Atlanta in 4 years.
