FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host City announcement
On a glitzy summer’s evening in New York City, FIFA confirmed the 16 cities chosen to host the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup™.
“I think this part of the world doesn’t realise what will happen here in 2026,” a smiling Gianni Infantino told the media in New York, who gathered in June for the big reveal of the 16 Host Cities chosen for the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup™. “The world will be invading Canada, Mexico and the USA with a big wave of joy and happiness, because that’s what football is all about.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was joined at the top table by Concacaf counterpart and FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani, both reflecting on the unifying force of the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup on such diverse, multicultural communities.
„This is a beautiful moment.“
A taste of the entertainment to come in the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup was on show in the New York studio broadcast that revealed the 16Host Cities in June 2022. Fox Sports quartet Rob Stone, 1994 FIFA World Cup™ star Alexi Lalas, Stu Holden and Jenny Taft were joined by Telemundo duo Andrés Cantor and Ana Jurka and music artist and actress Becky G in announcing the cities that would welcome the world in 2026.
The latter, the daughter of American-Mexican parents, rounded off the event with a performance, having released her second studio album not long before, suggesting that the first tournament to be co-hosted by three countries will be one of diversity and entertainment.
„There are so many beautiful cities.“
On-pitch news also created a buzz in the Big Apple, with all three member associations having confirmed their places at the FIFA World Cup 2022™ directly through Concacaf qualifying.
Jonathan Osorio helped Canada to their first appearance at the tournament since 1986 and was delighted by the selection of Toronto and Vancouver as he took part in the live show alongside the USA’s Christian Pulisic and Mexico’s Hirving Lozano. “It’s amazing that the World Cup is finally coming to Canada; it’s something as kids it was hard to even dream of,” Osorio enthused. “This will be huge for the growth of the game, similar to what the 1994 FIFA World Cup did for soccerin the USA. It will grow the sport and unite the people.”