Philadelphia selected as 2026 World Cup host city
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FIFA on Thursday announced Philadelphia is among the cities that will host games during the 2026 World Cup hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
Why it matters: Cities that host the prestigious international soccer tournament see an influx of fans and tourists who pump money into local economies.
- Philadelphia Soccer 2026, which coordinated the city's bid, estimated that matches could generate around $460 million in total economic impact in Philly.
- An estimated 450,000 total attendees are expected to flock to the city for the event, with visitor spending potentially ranging from $147 million to $262 million.
The big picture: FIFA picked 11 sites in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada to host 2026 World Cup games, Axios' Herb Scribner reports.
- The tournament will feature 48 nations for the first time, expanded from 32.
- Other U.S. host sites chosen include New York/New Jersey, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay area.
Of note: 2026 is a jam packed year for Philadelphia.
- The MLB will host the 2026 All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
- The city will also host several events tied to the country's 250th anniversary celebration that year.
What they're saying: Meg Kane, bid coordinator for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, said hosting World Cup matches will help put the city on "the global map."
- "This is an opportunity to showcase everything that's great about Philadelphia," she said.
What's next: FIFA will soon provide more details, including the location of training sites and the number of games the city will host, Kane said.