LOS ANGELES (Wednesday, June 13, 2018) – The United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States was selected to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ earlier today by the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow. For the first time in history, FIFA's Member Associations were given the opportunity to vote on the host for the FIFA World Cup™. They did so by a vote of 134-65.
“The LA Galaxy, AEG, StubHub Center and the Rose Bowl Stadium are pleased that FIFA has selected the United Bid as the host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “Los Angeles has a distinct and longstanding tradition with the sport of soccer. As a founding partner of the 2026 Los Angeles World Cup Committee, we will work diligently with our many partners for the opportunity to welcome the FIFA World Cup back to Los Angeles in 2026.”
Today's vote, which occurred a day before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ in Russia, also marks the first time three nations have been selected to co-host a FIFA World Cup™ and the first time the FIFA World Cup™ will be played in North America in 32 years. The United Bid offers FIFA and its 211 Member Associations unity, certainty, and opportunity as they prepare to host the largest FIFA World Cup™ in history, which will be expanded to a 48-team format.
"We are honored FIFA awarded the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ to the United Bid and even prouder that Los Angeles is among the 23 Candidate Host Cities that have the demonstrated history and ability to stage the world's largest sporting event," said Alan Rothenberg, Managing Member of the 2026 Los Angeles World Cup Committee. "Los Angeles is excited about the opportunity to welcome an inclusive celebration of soccer that is the FIFA World Cup™ back to our city and are fully committed to working with the United Bid and FIFA to ensure the fans, players, and officials have a truly spectacular experience at the largest FIFA World Cup™ in history."
The Los Angeles bid to become a Host City was submitted by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission in collaboration with AEG and LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park, Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, Banc of California Stadium and Los Angeles Football Club, and Alan Rothenberg, with support from the City of Los Angeles, City of Inglewood and the City of Pasadena.
“"Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ is a rare and important moment to demonstrate that we are all truly united through sport," said Carlos Cordeiro, President of U.S. Soccer and Co-Chair of the United Bid. ‘We are humbled by the trust our colleagues in the FIFA family have put in our bid; strengthened by the unity between our three countries and the CONCACAF region; and excited by the opportunity we have to put football on a new and sustainable path for generations to come."
With the FIFA Congress decision to award the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, to the football federations of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the three nations will jointly manage preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ until FIFA establishes their operations to manage the competition. Among other decisions, FIFA will make the final selection of host cities for the 2026 competition from the 23 candidates proposed in the United Bid.
The United Bid is expected to generate more than $14 billion in revenue and $11 billion in profits for FIFA, which will be shared with the 211 FIFA Member Associations, helping further develop and expand the game of football across the globe.
