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Atlanta named official Candidate Host City in United Bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup

180319_MBStadium_UnitedBid

Atlanta has been included as an official Candidate Host City in the United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States to host the 2026 FIFA World Cupā„¢. The United Bid announced its list of 23 Candidate Host Cities that will be included in the Bid Book earlier today.


Atlanta is part of the most comprehensive and far-reaching hosting strategy ever developed for a mega-sporting event. Atlanta is thrilled at the possibility of welcoming the world to a united and inclusive celebration of soccer in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, offering an advanced and existing stage on which the worldā€™s best players will compete.


The full list of Candidate Host Cities can be found below. If the 2026 FIFA World Cupā„¢ is awarded to the United Bid, FIFA will select up to 16 Host Cities from the proposed slate of 23.


ā€œCanada, 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,ā€ said John Kristick, Executive Director of the United Bid.  ā€œWe 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.ā€


Canada, Mexico, and the United States require no new stadium construction to stage the 2026 FIFA World Cupā„¢. Atlanta, along with the United Bid, will instead be able to work with FIFA to ensure the players, officials, and fans have an extraordinary experience at the largest FIFA World Cupā„¢ ever staged.


Across every metric, the 2026 FIFA World Cupā„¢ in North America has the potential to deliver something extraordinary for Atlanta, North America, FIFA, and for soccer.


The United Bidā€™s final Candidate Host Cities are:


Canada:


  • Edmonton
  • MontrĆ©al
  • Toronto


Mexico:


  • Guadalajara
  • Mexico City
  • Monterrey


United States:


  • Atlanta
  • Baltimore
  • Boston
  • Cincinnati
  • Dallas
  • Denver
  • Houston
  • Kansas City
  • Los Angeles
  • Miami
  • Nashville
  • New York/New Jersey
  • Orlando
  • Philadelphia
  • San Francisco Bay Area
  • Seattle
  • Washington DC
'History of Atlanta Soccer' podcast

"The History of Atlanta Soccer" presented by Piedmont is a new audio series from Atlanta United that tracks the growth of soccer in the city, from the turn of the century to organized teams like the Atlanta Chiefs, Silverbacks and Atlanta United.