United Bid Selected to Host the 2026 FIFA World Cup™

(Washington, DC) – The United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States were 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 to 65.

The District of Columbia is part of the most comprehensive and far-reaching hosting strategy ever developed for a mega-sporting event. Today’s vote 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 States will stage 60 of the 80 matches, including all from the quarterfinals on, while Mexico and Canada will get 10 apiece. Twenty-three cities, including Washington DC, are in the running to become the 16 match venues. The full list of Candidate Host Cities can be found below.

“As the #SportsCapital, we are thrilled that the United States will serve as one of the hosts for the 2026 World Cup and even more excited that Washington, DC is part of the winning bid,” said Mayor Bowser. “As the world saw this past week, Washington, DC is a city of champions – one that has a has a long-standing history of hosting global events and creating unforgettable memories.”

“Washington, DC is etched with rich soccer sports memories and celebrations from across the city whether at the iconic RFK Stadium or FedExField,” said Max Brown, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Events DC. “Joining the United Bid builds on the legacy that DC has cemented as an international soccer city and will inspire the next generation of Washingtonians for years to come.”

“Hosting the World Cup in Washington, DC could provide hundreds of millions in economic impact for the city,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO, Destination DC. “Washington, DC is clearly a destination for sports fans, with incredible professional teams as well as special events. There’s a ton of momentum in the city following the Caps’ 2018 Stanley Cup win and we’re getting ready to host the MLB All-Star Game in July. We’re thrilled to potentially add the World Cup 2026 to our lineup and welcome soccer fans from around the globe.”   

“We are proud to be a part of Washington, D.C.’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Bid as Host City Venue, and look forward to playing an integral role in hosting such an internationally prestigious event,” Washington Redskins President Bruce Allen said. “We are committed to hosting first class events at FedExField, and look forward to welcoming soccer fans from around the world.”

“Washington, D.C., is consistently a top soccer market in the United States, and we are thrilled about the opportunity for our passionate fans of the game to see World Cup matches right here in their own backyards," Jason Levien, D.C. United CEO and Managing General Partner, said. "We are proud to see soccer continue to grow in the District and we cannot think of a better city than our nation’s capital to welcome soccer fans from all over the world."

“Canada, Mexico, and the United States have joined together to deliver a United Bid that offers FIFA and its member associations the power of unity, the promise of certainty, and the potential of extraordinary opportunity,” said John Kristick, Executive Director of the United Bid. “We are confident that the combination of our 23 existing world-class stadiums, 150 existing elite training facilities, and our modern and interconnected transportation network can help FIFA to achieve new records for attendance and revenue which will allow the entire global football community to improve and grow.”

“Trinity is thrilled that the United Bid was selected by the FIFA Congress,” said Ann Pauley, Vice President for Advancement at Trinity Washington University. “We look forward to hosting practices and games on Trinity’s outstanding soccer field. Soccer is a growing sport in this region, and the Capitals win of the Stanley Cup shows that Washington is a city that loves sports and has the greatest fans.”

"Having the World Cup in DC would be a huge inspiration to the city's kids,” says Bethany Henderson, DC SCORES Executive Director. “DC SCORES was started with money and excitement generated by the `94 Cup, and now supports nearly 3,000 kids playing soccer year-round—making soccer one of the most popular sports in the inner city. The 2026 tournament will find in DC an eager young fan base decades in the making!"

The United Bid’s final candidate host cities are:

Canada: 

Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto

Mexico:

Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey

United States:

Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New Jersey/New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Washington, DC

Tonight, June 13, from 6:00 – 8:00pm, there will be an informal celebration at Across the Pond (1732 Connecticut Ave NW), which will lead into a game watch party as D.C. United takes on Toronto FC at 8:00pm.

About Events DC
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, deliver premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital. Leveraging the power of a world -class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and Maloof Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. The most recent addition is Gateway DC, an innovative and versatile space featuring a covered and open-air pavilion in the center of a 1-acre park, conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media – Facebook (Events DC), Twitter (@TheEventsDC and @TheEventsDC_SED for the Sports Entertainment and Special Events Division), and Instagram (@EventsDC).

About Destination DC
Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. washington.org.

About the United Bid Committee
The United Bid Committee was created by the National Federations of Canada, Mexico and the United States to manage the bidding process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™.

About The 2026 FIFA World Cup™

The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will be the first tournament with the expanded 48-team format and will require world-class facilities and infrastructure to ensure a successful tournament. The United Bid of Canada, Mexico and the United States is uniquely suited to accommodate FIFA’s high-level standards for hosting a FIFA World Cup™. If the United Bid is selected by FIFA as the host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, up to 16 Host Cities will be selected as venues for games. Canada, Mexico and the United States also have a long and successful history as hosts - 13 FIFA World Cups™ have been hosted in Canada, Mexico and the United States, five of which have set attendance records.

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