The world’s biggest sporting event will come to Boston, Mass., if FIFA makes it so.
Boston and Gillette Stadium are included on the final list of host cities and sites for USA, Canada and Mexico’s collective bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The United Bid announced Thursday on its website. Boston and 22 other cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico will stage World Cup games eight-plus years from now if the United Bid is successful.
“Canada, Mexico, and the United States have joined together to deliver a United Bid that offers FIFA and its member associations the power of unity, the promise of certainty, and the potential of extraordinary opportunity,” United Bid executive director John Kristick said. “We are confident that the combination of our 23 existing world-class stadiums, 150 existing elite training facilities, and our modern and interconnected transportation network can help FIFA to achieve new records for attendance and revenue, which will allow the entire global football community to improve and grow.”
Here’s the final list of potential North American host cities.
#InsideTheBid “Our desire is to help shape the FIFA World Cup™ for the 21st century by supporting FIFA and showcasing the power of football. We aim to meaningfully impact the world through UNITY, CERTAINTY, and OPPORTUNITY…” #United2026 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/6XQNRhachy
— United 2026 (@united2026) March 16, 2018
North America and Morocco are vying to host the 2026 World Cup, the first 48-team edition (up from 32) of world soccer’s quadrennial championship.
The United Bid will submit its proposal to FIFA on Friday. FIFA will determine the 2026 World Cup host June 13 by vote of its 211 member associations.