update: the US, Canada and Mexico just got the 2026 World Cup.
update: the US, Canada and Mexico just got the 2026 World Cup.
Despite all of the political drama, US, Canada and Mexico are hosting the 2026 World Cup. I am looking forward to attending.
I am a little curious as well...I suppose we will find out. In any case, given the expanded field and our weak region, we should absolutely qualify on our own this cycle. We do have a lot of promising young talent coming up. Outside of Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey I won't really miss anybody from the old guard anyway. Somewhat of a distant memory, but I did always really like Carlos Bocanegra as well.
A little disappointed the final will be in New York. Would love to see it in Seattle or Columbus, but I get it.
Yup, Met Life Stadium in NJ gets the final. They are still debating from among 23 cities to be rest of the 16 host cities (60 games to be played in US with 10 each in Mexico and Canada). Columbus is not among the potential host cities.
Candidate Host Cities
23 potential sites with 16 to be picked
Code:Atlanta Miami Baltimore Monterrey Boston Montréal Cincinnati Nashville Dallas New York/New Jersey Denver Orlando Edmonton Philadelphia Guadalajara San Francisco Bay Area Houston Seattle Kansas City Toronto Los Angeles Washington, DC Mexico City
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Just to be clear, that is the proposed location for the final, but the bidding group does not decide the location of any games, so that will be up to FIFA as well. I suppose it is likely that they will follow the bid's recommendation to hold the final in NY, but it is not a certainty.
There is a special FIFA committee who determines the official host nation(s) if multiple countries are awarded a joint bid, like in this case. With the 2026 cup expanded to 48 teams, the host is no longer separate from its region, so if the host comes from EUFA, then EUFA gets one less bid that Cup. With the hosts coming from CONCACAF, our region will get that many fewer spots.
But, the 48 team expansion gives CONCACAF6 spots in the tournament. So, the US and Mexico were pretty much sure-things to qualify anyway. I am betting FIFA grants an automatic to Canada too, meaning the rest of CONCACAF would be vying for 3 spots (from among Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, T&T, Haiti, Panama, and so on).
-Jason "I'm covering this story for CNNi today so I am all about WC2026!" Evans
Why are you wasting time here when you could be wasting it by listening to the latest episode of the DBR Podcast?
Why are you wasting time here when you could be wasting it by listening to the latest episode of the DBR Podcast?
With 6 available spots, there was going to be little drama for the US and Mexico (and Costa Rica) starting in 2026 anyway. While a disaster was possible with just 3 or 4 bids, the notion that the US or Mexico would not be among the top 6 in CONCACAF just isn't really possible.
Why are you wasting time here when you could be wasting it by listening to the latest episode of the DBR Podcast?
In 2002 when Japan and South Korea co-hosted they were both in the World Cup - I think they were given automatic berths but they might have qualified. If the field was staying at its current size having US, Mexico and Canada all get automatic bids might have been challenging, but with the planned expansion, I'm guessing they will give them all automatic bids, particularly because the US and Mexico likely would be getting in anyway (though this year shows that nothing is guaranteed).
If I recall, the bid team's final proposal suggested an increased number of games going to Mexico and Canada to de-emphasize American involvement, since many countries aren't currently big fans of ours. However, I think FIFA has the final say.
As a New Yorker, I would love for the final to be here. I assume DC is a strong possibility also, particularly given that there are some rumblings of a new stadium for the Redskins, and LA, either in the Rose Bowl or the new football stadium that is under construction. Chicago apparently asked not to be considered to host any games. I think Philly and Baltimore will get squeezed by their proximity to NY, DC and New England, the same might happen to Nashville due to Atlanta, and Miami and Orlando at best is an either/or.
The travel distances between venues has the potential to be a real headache - back-to-back games in Toronto or New England followed by Mexico City would not be easy. I don't know how much they can regionalize things, such as having Dallas and LA be affiliated with Mexican venues and northern American venues be closely tied to Canadian hosts.
I know as much about soccer as I do cricket and rugby, but I'd be interested in attending a World Cup game in Nashville. That sounds like a fun trip. I have a cousin that played D1 soccer and is married to a former D1 player as well. I would absolutely love to surprise them with tickets to a World Cup game close by as an anniversary or Christmas present.
I'll wear an America flag scarf and sit with the Outlaws. I'll be that guy to jump on the bandwagon! Basically, I'll use any excuse in the world to get back to Nashville. Supporting Team USA is as good as any.
I just hope our men's squad can get it together in the next 8 years.