MIAMI – The Mayor of Miami, Francis Suárez, on Wednesday presented the city’s candidacy as the “grand host” of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and host of the final at the Hard Rock Stadium.
“We are here for a reason. Miami is the best city in the country, even on the continent, to host the World Cup, and we want the final in our city,” Suárez said at a press conference in support of the candidacy. of the “Magic City”.
The Miami City Councilor emphasized the city’s “vibrant” character, cultural “diversity” and the passion for football displayed by its population, more than half of whom were born outside the country.
“There is no other city that offers the international appeal that Miami has to offer and that passion for football,” stressed the councilor, adding that the coastal city has five convention centers and nine sports centers.
Last January, FIFA confirmed the calendar for the selection process of the 2026 World Cup venues in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which provides for virtual meetings with those responsible for the stadiums, in-person visits at the end of July and the election in the last quarter of the year.
If Miami is selected, some World Cup matches will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
According to local media, the organizers of the 2026 World Cup are expected to visit the stadium in the third quarter of the year. The decision on the host cities could be known by the end of 2021.
“Our goal is to show the world what Miami is,” the high level of infrastructure it offers to the world and most importantly, the diversity “that comes together in this sport,” said Christopher Corey, Miami’s liaison for the 2026 bid. World Cup.
Together with Suárez, at the press conference outside the mayor’s office, next to Corey, Jorge Mas, owner of Inter Miami CF.
“In this beautiful city we have a great passion for football and a unique diversity as a world city. And football is a global sport,” said Mas.
FIFA is expected to select 16 locations in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Miami, along with Orlando, also in Florida, is one of the American cities competing for 10 of these.
The United States already hosted the 1994 World Cup. Mexico hosted the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, while Canada hosted the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament with 48 teams and the first in three countries.
Edmonton, Montreal, and Toronto (Canada), Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey (Mexico), and Atlanta, San Francisco, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York / New Jersey, Orlando, Seattle and Washington (United States) are the 23 candidate cities.