The FIFA World Cup kicks off next week with matches scheduled across the United States, Mexico and Canada, but not in Chicago.

The big picture: Eleven U.S. cities will host World Cup matches, including Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Dallas, but the closest Midwest city is Kansas City.

So why not Chicago? Simple: We didn't bid for it.

Flashback: FIFA accepted bids for the 2026 World Cup back in 2018 and Mayor Rahm Emanuel seemed excited at first to get Chicago a piece of the pie.

• But after his team reviewed the financials, it became clear the city may not have seen an economic windfall and Emanuel withdrew Chicago and Soldier Field from consideration.

What they said: "FIFA could not provide a basic level of certainty on some major unknowns that put our city and taxpayers at risk," the mayor's office said in a 2018 statement.

State of play: Signs suggest Emanuel's concerns were well-founded. In the run-up to the World Cup's June 11 start, a collection of host cities, states and corporate donors have spent tens of millions on transit, security and other World Cup logistics, the New York Times reports.

• And about 65%-70% of hotel owners in World Cup host cities surveyed said visa barriers and geopolitical concerns are "significantly suppressing international demand," according to a recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

History lesson: The last time the World Cup came to the U.S., Chicago not only hosted matches, but was the site of the opening ceremonies. The 1994 World Cup remains one of the most successful tournaments in FIFA history.

Zoom out: Much has changed in the U.S. since the tournament took place here 32 years ago.

• Now the city boasts several professional leagues for both men and women, more people are playing the game overall, and we have more ways to watch the sport than ever before.

What's next: The 2026 World Cup runs June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities.

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A new study from Northwestern University says voters are more accepting of LGBTQ candidates in the last decade, but that support is conditional.

Why it matters: The research found acceptance is harder for candidates who don't look or sound "straight," regardless of sexuality.

What they did: Northwestern professor and author Martin Naunov asked respondents to evaluate hypothetical candidates based on a headshot and a 20-second audio message.

• Naunov manipulated gender presentation by changing specific candidates' vocal pitches.
• A baseline image of a hypothetical male candidate and two "feminized versions" of the same man, labeled "slightly gender nonconforming man" and "gender nonconforming man," were also shown.

The result: Both Republicans and Democrats express bias against candidates who don't conform to gender stereotypes, Naunov found.

Flashback: Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential run marked a shift in national attitudes toward LGBTQ candidates, leading Buttigieg to argue that Americans were over "old prejudices."

By the numbers: From 2018 to 2022 alone, there was a 60% rise in the number of LGBTQ candidates, resulting in more than a thousand openly LGBTQ elected officials nationwide, according to Naunov's study.

Yes, but: Buttigieg's campaign led to discussions within the queer community about whether a more effeminate candidate would have been accepted in the same way, Naunov points out.

Go deeper

🏎️ NASCAR is returning to Chicago next year, reports say. The event would move from July 4th to Memorial Day weekend. (Tribune)

⚖️ U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are calling on U.S. Attorney for Illinois' Northern District Andrew Boutros to resign after the feds' case against the "Broadview Six" fell apart amid claims of prosecutorial misconduct. (Sun-Times)

🚕 A taxi surcharge of $1 for fares less than $20 is now in effect in response to high gas prices. (WGN)

⚖️ The former WGN employee who was apprehended by immigration agents on the North Side last fall is filing a $10 million claim against the feds. (Block Club)

👋🏻 Hey, it's Monica, back with another review of some delicious happy hour hijinks.

🇫🇷 The spot: Mon Ami Gabi (2300 N. Lincoln Park West). This decades-old French bistro in the historic Belden-Stratford building just launched its outdoor happy hour last month, and it's already one of my favorites.

⏰ The hours: 4:30-6pm Monday-Friday on the patio only, weather permitting.

🍷 The vibe: Relaxed, sophisticated, mature and almost Parisian.

🍟 The bites: Crispy, delicious frites ($5), marinated olives ($5), deviled eggs topped with whitefish caviar ($3), a "tavern style" croque-monsieur with cornichons ($8) and French onion gougéres with caramelized onions and fromage blanc ($4).

🍸 The drinks: $5 bottles of Stella Artois or Kronenbourg, $8 wines by the glass, and $10 cocktails from a French Martini with pineapple and sparkling wine to a Kir Royale.

🥐 Perfect pair: The croque using buttery croissant-like pastry with a cold glass of rosé.

📜 Three-word review: Elegant post-zoo snackeroo.

We are down to the semi-finals for this week's tournament.

"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" turns 40 this month, so we are pitting your favorite scenes against each other to crown the best.

State of play: While three scenes breezed through to the next round, the famous car crash scene barely defeated Ferris running home to beat his parents by just a handful of votes!

Vote here. We'll keep the polls open until 5pm.