FIFA snubs Washington D.C., selects 16 North American cities to host 2026 World Cup

[Gefn]

NEW YORK — Kansas City and Boston are among the North American cities that will stage 2026 men’s World Cup matches — but Washington D.C. and Baltimore are not.

FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, revealed the tournament’s hosts on Thursday here in Manhattan. It selected three Mexican cities, two Canadian ones, and 11 in the United States — New York/East Rutherford, N.J.; Philadelphia; Boston/Foxborough; Miami; Atlanta; Houston; Dallas/Arlington; Kansas City; Los Angeles/Inglewood; San Francisco/Santa Clara; and Seattle.

It did not, however, select the U.S. capital. "This was a very, very difficult choice," Colin Smith, FIFA's chief competitions and events officer, said. He acknowledged that "it's hard to imagine ... a World Cup coming to the U.S. and the capital city not taking a major role."


https://sports.yahoo.com/world-cup-host-cities-2026-214301806.html

[Smokin Joe]

Bad air, and loaded to the rafters with criminals, who'd want to go to DC?

[Wingnut]

They should rethink Seattle.

[PeteS in CA]

So, metro areas with NFL stadia. WashDC and Baltimore probably aren't the safest places, but I'm not sure Philadelphia and Atlanta are much better (folks living near there are welcome to adjust my attitude, ). "San Francisco/Santa Clara" means the stadium used by the SF 49ers, which is located in Santa Clara (~1 hour drive from SF). It's a nice modern facility, but access and parking SUCK! If, for some reason, I went to a 49ers game I'd either take Light Rail and walk a mile or two from the station or park a mile or two away and use the San Tomas Aquino Creek trail to walk to the stadium.