FIFA WC USA-Mexico-Canada 2026

[FYI]

3 hours ago, stryker said:

As for previous failed Olympic bids, I think that's irrelevant. Having said all that, yes, if I had to bet money I'd say MetLife is  line for the final, but I would expect Dallas to at least host one of the semifinals and possibly the third place match, but I totally wouldn't rule out JerryWorld.

You're the one who brought up "with the 'Olympics' in mind" in relation to AT&T stadium. Yet the USOC bypassed Dallas on a number of different occasions in previous domestic Olympic bid races despite that stadium being built.

Sure, Dallas could host semifinals or the third place match, but the actual final is overreaching, no matter how much of a negotiator a certain Texan power broker is (I'm sure FIFA has already dealt with bigger). Everything else just sounds like the usual "everything is bigger in Texas" talk.

FIFA will surely want the "ideal fanzone" for the 2026 final to be somewhere else where it won't even slightly reminisce the ultra conservativeness of the 2022 host! Plus, what better view than Manhattan right across the Hudson, vs what? A view of the parking lots! 

2 hours ago, stryker said:

I won't discount the red-neck Bigot part. That's one of the reasons I left. And Georgia is run by red-necked bigots too.

At least Georgia is showing some strong signs of purple these days (unlike Texas, & it's all of the sudden younger brother idiot state).

[stryker]

1 hour ago, FYI said:

You're the one who brought up "with the 'Olympics' in mind" in relation to AT&T stadium. Yet the USOC bypassed Dallas on a number of different occasions in previous domestic Olympic bid races despite that stadium being built.

Sure, Dallas could host semifinals or the third place match, but the actual final is overreaching, no matter how much of a negotiator a certain Texan power broker is (I'm sure FIFA has already dealt with bigger). Everything else just sounds like the usual "everything is bigger in Texas" talk.

FIFA will surely want the "ideal fanzone" for the 2026 final to be somewhere else where it won't even slightly reminisce the ultra conservativeness of the 2022 host! Plus, what better view than Manhattan right across the Hudson, vs what? A view of the parking lots! 

At least Georgia is showing some strong signs of purple these days (unlike Texas, & it's all of the sudden younger brother idiot state).

Fair points. I simply brought up the Olympics as one of Jerry's motives when the stadium was designed (initial plans were to put the stadium in Fair Park in south Dallas and tear down the old Cotton Bowl until former mayor Laura Miller refused to put it to a vote). I volunteered on their 2012 bid. It was a fiasco, and even as a native Texan, I can say Dallas fell well short in other areas where the stadium didn't matter. As for Jerry, I'm fairly certain Infantino was already a guest of his during a CONCACAF Gold Cup match back in 2021 (I can't find a link for that, but I want to say I read it somewhere). I'll give you the Manhattan skyline. That will be quite a view. Georgia has gotten purple on a federal level. I'd argue Texas could be the same if the Democrats ever spent serious money there.

[Quaker2001]

5 hours ago, yoshi said:

Wasn't the plan to move east across America through the tournament? I'm quite surprised they didn't build SoFi as capable of hosting football (soccer) - with MLS growing, strong in LA, and with it being built for Kroenke, who owns Arsenal too. 

 

They have 2 NFL teams there.  That's who he built that for.  Everything else is secondary.  They'll have World Cup games there, but if the final is out of the mix, somehow I doubt Kroenke is looking at that as a lost opportunity.

[FYI]

49 minutes ago, stryker said:

As for Jerry, I'm fairly certain Infantino was already a guest of his during a CONCACAF Gold Cup match back in 2021 (I can't find a link for that, but I want to say I read it somewhere). 

Lol, do you honestly put a lot of credence on that (even if that was the case)?

Reminds me of Dunkay McKay's article on Doha a few months back, saying how Bach's "close ties" to the sheiks over in Qatar gives them quite a leg up on their 2036 Olympic ambitions. Then later backtracked what he said earlier after the last minute PR fiasco that was the Budweiser faux paux (which even you yourself alluded to/commented on as well). 

In the end, though, being a 'guest' at a game match is neither here nor there, especially when it comes down to big stakes like a FIFA final. But again, I agree that semi-finals &/or the third place match is quite a possibility for AT&T stadium.

1 hour ago, stryker said:

Georgia has gotten purple on a federal level. I'd argue Texas could be the same if the Democrats ever spent serious money there.

You make that sound like it's trivial, when I think it's quite significant. It means that some people there ultimately want their voices heard instead of being suppressed. As far as Texas is concerned, as the saying goes; you sometimes have to know when to pick your battles.

[fusilli]

Final in NY/NJ would surely sound great to international audience. But there has to be a reason why they were surpassed by not-so-appealing Pasadena in '94 and stay as a backup in this one.

And still on topic, any chance Azteca could also be taken into consideration for a semi? Afterall, it's the only strictly footbal related stadia among the all bunch. 

[FYI]

The Rose Bowl at the time had a much higher capacity than the old Giants stadium did. So surely that was one part of it. Plus, Pasadena is still right next door to L.A. So if not New York this time, either, California would make the most sense than anywhere else in the U.S. (with the stadiums that are currently involved) for the final.

[AustralianFan]

SoFi Stadium:  adjustment arena?

I’m sure LA and SoFi Stadium won’t want easily let go of the chance to host the biggest football sporting event on the planet, the World Cup Final.

So what can SoFi Stadium do to ensure the field of play meet the required World Cup minimum dimensions?

In an era of adjustable, multi-purpose stadiums, is there a SoFi Stadium solution?

[stryker]

5 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

SoFi Stadium:  adjustment arena?

I’m sure LA and SoFi Stadium won’t want easily let go of the chance to host the biggest football sporting event on the planet, the World Cup Final.

So what can SoFi Stadium do to ensure the field of play meet the required World Cup minimum dimensions?

In an era of adjustable, multi-purpose stadiums, is there a SoFi Stadium solution?

U.S. stadiums typically are not designed with adjustable seating like what you'd see in Stade de France for example. In the case of SoFi, more than likely seats would have to be removed and I doubt that Stan Kroenke would agree to that. Remember the stadium was built primarily for American football.

[AustralianFan]

3 hours ago, stryker said:

U.S. stadiums typically are not designed with adjustable seating like what you'd see in Stade de France for example. In the case of SoFi, more than likely seats would have to be removed and I doubt that Stan Kroenke would agree to that. Remember the stadium was built primarily for American football.

If I was Stan Kroenke, I would be removing a few rows of seats in order to secure and harness the publicity and $$ generated by SoFi Stadium featuring on the world stage hosting the 2026 World Cup Final.

Afterwards, the seat rows can be replaced.   Surely, as a multi-billionaire he would do this in a second.  It is a magnificent stadium and it’s his baby.

[fusilli]

21 hours ago, FYI said:

The Rose Bowl at the time had a much higher capacity than the old Giants stadium did. So surely that was one part of it. Plus, Pasadena is still right next door to L.A. So if not New York this time, either, California would make the most sense than anywhere else in the U.S. (with the stadiums that are currently involved) for the final.

Well, yes, tha was the main point. L.A. being preferred to NY both times (even with equal capacity scenario).

[SportLightning]

1 hour ago, AustralianFan said:

If I was Stan Kroenke, I would be removing a few rows of seats in order to secure and harness the publicity and $$ generated by SoFi Stadium featuring on the world stage hosting the 2026 World Cup Final.

It's just too narrow for to host the final. So my bet is on Dallas with AT&T Stadium as likely for the final since it's wide enough to host the final.

[FYI]

44 minutes ago, fusilli said:

Well, yes, tha was the main point. L.A. being preferred to NY both times (even with equal capacity scenario).

An equal capacity scenario wasn't an issue back in 1994. As I said earlier, the Rose Bowl (94,000) in Pasadena, CA (which is still right next door to the U.S.' second largest market) had a much HIGHER capacity than the old Giants stadium (76,000) did in New York. So clearly, Pasadena had a major advantage in that sense back then. As a matter of fact, the Rose Bowl was the largest capacity-wise stadium of the entire 1994 lot. So really, it shouldn't be no surprise why it was the final WC venue that year And the final venue for 2026 hasn't even been decided yet. So I wouldn't say yet that L.A. is being preferred to New York both times. Right now New York is still very much part of the 'final' equation. 

And if SoFi is really that much of a problem to reconfigure for soccer that some are claiming it to be, then Met Life stadium is really the only other option (despite some making the case for AT&T stadium, which can be expanded to 105,000. But I just don't see FIFA making that "final" call). They'd want their creme-de-la-creme match to be in one of the U.S.' top two largest markets. Whether that'd be L.A. or New York. 

[FYI]

28 minutes ago, SportLightning said:

It's just too narrow for to host the final. So my bet is on Dallas with AT&T Stadium as likely for the final since it's wide enough to host the final.

Yeah, okay. Right along side Nashville, no?! 

[AustralianFan]

1 hour ago, SportLightning said:

It's just too narrow for to host the final. So my bet is on Dallas with AT&T Stadium as likely for the final since it's wide enough to host the final.

I think SoFi Stadium will be trying their darndest to come up with a solution and not let the World Cup Final slip through their fingers.   

[stryker]

2 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

If I was Stan Kroenke, I would be removing a few rows of seats in order to secure and harness the publicity and $$ generated by SoFi Stadium featuring on the world stage hosting the 2026 World Cup Final.

Afterwards, the seat rows can be replaced.   Surely, as a multi-billionaire he would do this in a second.  It is a magnificent stadium and it’s his baby.

There's another issue in that those seats are in all likelihood paid for by Rams and Chargers season ticket holders who probably have personal seat licenses for not just the Rams and or Chargers but other events too (my father had a PSL for the Cowboys when they played in the old Texas Stadium). Telling these PSL owners you won't get to experience the WC because we are ripping your seats out wouldn't go over too well. Remember American football is Kroenke's first priority, not the WC.

[AustralianFan]

20 minutes ago, stryker said:

There's another issue in that those seats are in all likelihood paid for by Rams and Chargers season ticket holders who probably have personal seat licenses for not just the Rams and or Chargers but other events too (my father had a PSL for the Cowboys when they played in the old Texas Stadium). Telling these PSL owners you won't get to experience the WC because we are ripping your seats out wouldn't go over too well. Remember American football is Kroenke's first priority, not the WC.

According to media reports, SoFi Stadium has to also meet FIFA’s minimum capacity requirements of 80,000 for the World Cup Final.

So, an added layer of complexity to this playing field dimensions issue.

SoFi Stadium has to find a way to:

• temporarily adjust the dimensions of the field of play for the World Cup, and
• increase the overall capacity of the entire Stadium to 80,000.

Currently, SoFi Stadium’s capacity for NFL Games is 70,420.

According to Football Arroyo, games, “it could expand to 100,000 for special events like concerts, soccer and other sports”. 

Would that mean an additional temporary tier of seating around the top to get it to 100,000?

Intriguing.  More to unfold around this I’m sure.

 

 

 

 

 

[Quaker2001]

8 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

If I was Stan Kroenke, I would be removing a few rows of seats in order to secure and harness the publicity and $$ generated by SoFi Stadium featuring on the world stage hosting the 2026 World Cup Final.

Afterwards, the seat rows can be replaced.   Surely, as a multi-billionaire he would do this in a second.  It is a magnificent stadium and it’s his baby.

 

You're not Stan Kroenke.  As styrker noted, his priority is and always will be the Rams.  Yes, he built SoFi to attract big events like the World Cup and the Olympics.  I don't think it's going to be worth the expense for him to make major changes to the stadium so they can get the final.  Easy for you to throw around "but he's a billionaire" as if there's no cost/benefit analysis attached to this.

 

Los Angeles and SoFi will still host World Cup matches.  It was never a given they'd get the final.  They did in 1994 because they had the biggest stadium.  That's not the case anymore.  And yes, for all the reports that SoFi can add 30,000 more seats, the attendance for the Super Bowl there was only 70,000.  Not 100,000

[AustralianFan]

3 hours ago, Quaker2001 said:

And yes, for all the reports that SoFi can add 30,000 more seats, the attendance for the Super Bowl there was only 70,000.  Not 100,000

Forget the Superbowl.

SoFi Stadium is expandable to 100,000 capacity according to these reports.

FIFA requires 80,000 minimum capacity so capacity-wise, SoFi Stadium can accommodate the FIFA World Cup.

Inside the $5 billion SoFi Stadium - Techvision on Youtube - start at 1:14

• “SoFi Stadium can also extend it’s capacity to hold up to 100,000 guests”

SoFi Stadium - expandable to 100,000 seated - Wikipedia

• “The stadium bowl has open sides and seats 70,240 spectators for most events, with the ability to expand by 30,000 seats for larger events”

As we know, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles has been selected as a FIFA World Cup 2026 venue.  Source: NBC Sports.

If a solution to the field of play dimensions issue can be found, then the sparkling hi-tech SoFi Stadium with all it’s corporate, entertainment and spectator comforts will romp all over any of it’s California stadium rivals on capacity and comfort and probably land the World Cup 2026 Final to boot.

Until we hear otherwise, and as it stands right now, the USA World Cup venues are:

• Los Angeles – SoFi Stadium
• Atlanta – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Boston – Gillette Stadium
• Dallas – AT&T Stadium
• Houston – NRG Stadium
• Kansas City – Arrowhead Stadium
• Miami – Hard Rock Stadium
• New York/New Jersey – MetLife Stadium
• Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field
• San Francisco – Levi’s Stadium
• Seattle – Lumen Field

[Quaker2001]

Why would I forget the Super Bowl?  SoFi Stadium did NOT expand seating for that event.  Clearly it's possible, but maybe let's take a look at why they didn't do it for 1 of the biggest events they could possibly get at that venue.

 

Not sure why you feel the need to list the venues that have been selected.  SoFi is not and has never at any point been in jeopardy of being replaced as a venue.  The issue here is whether or not they are qualified to host the final.  That was certainly never a given that it would be theirs simply because the Rose Bowl hosted in 1994, the reasons for that having been spelled out earlier in the thread.

 

Again, if the options for Stan Kroenke are to make major changes to his venue in hopes of *maybe* getting selected to host the final.  Or to leave things be, still be a host but not the final.. I have a feeling I know which of those 2 he's selecting.  Expanding by 30,000 seats is something that was built into the stadium design.  Making the playing surface wider to accommodate a potential World Cup final, not so much.

[baron-pierreIV]

6 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

• Los Angeles – SoFi Stadium
• Atlanta – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Boston – Gillette Stadium
• Dallas – AT&T Stadium
• Houston – NRG Stadium
• Kansas City – Arrowhead Stadium
• Miami – Hard Rock Stadium
• New York/New Jersey – MetLife Stadium
• Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field
• San Francisco – Levi’s Stadium
• Seattle – Lumen Field

Actually, to make your list more exact -- Levis Stadium is in the city of Santa Clara; and is about 45-50 mi south of San Francsico; just as I think Gillette is in another distant suburb of Boston (what? 30 mi from downtown Boston)?  Since you note that MetLife is in NY/NJ (which is factual), then you (or the list makers) should indicate the same for Boston/Gillette and SF Bay Area/Santa Clara/Levis.  Of course, SoFi is in Inglewood and the Rose Bowl is in Pasadena -- totally separate cities from LA -- but I think w/in LA County.  

Edited March 27, 2023 by baron-pierreIV

[FYI]

1 hour ago, Quaker2001 said:

Not sure why you feel the need to list the venues that have been selected. 

Because they just can't help themselves with their incessant need on being the GB's tro.. excuse me, "news"feeder.

[FYI]

10 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

Actually, to make your list more exact -- Levis Stadium is in the city of Santa Clara; and is about 45-50 mi south of San Francsico; just as I think Gillette is in another distant suburb of Boston (what? 30 mi from downtown Boston)?  Since you note that MetLife is in NY/NJ (which is factual), then you (or the list makers) should indicate the same for Boston/Gillette and SF Bay Area/Santa Clara/Levis.  Of course, SoFi is in Inglewood and the Rose Bowl is in Pasadena -- totally separate cities from LA -- but I think w/in LA County.  

You forgot about Hard Rock Stadium actually being in Miami Gardens & not Miami, & AT&T stadium actually being in Arlington instead of Dallas, if we're going to be that technical.

But I think taking a cue from your book, baron, the 2026 Final should be where the best VISTAS are to be had!  Like Lumen Field in Seattle (talk about a in-your-face view with that skyline)! And Met Life of course. And maybe Lincoln Field in Philly. Then next probably Mercedes Benz in Atlanta. But then again, that one is covered, so the view of downtown would be skewed of course! 

[baron-pierreIV]

7 minutes ago, FYI said:

Then next probably Mercedes Benz in Atlanta. But then again, that one is covered, so the view of downtown would be skewed of course! 

For the covered stadia, if they're not there already, can't they install EXTRA-wide LED screens to keep a picture of downtown vistas to compensate for no big openings?? 

[stryker]

8 hours ago, Quaker2001 said:

 

 

Again, if the options for Stan Kroenke are to make major changes to his venue in hopes of *maybe* getting selected to host the final.  Or to leave things be, still be a host but not the final.. I have a feeling I know which of those 2 he's selecting.  Expanding by 30,000 seats is something that was built into the stadium design.  Making the playing surface wider to accommodate a potential World Cup final, not so much.

I'm not 100% certain on this but logistically I do not see how, given the design of the stadium, that SoFi can expand by 30,000 seats and make the pitch wider. If I had to guess, I'd reckon the 30,000 increase is probably for events like the NCAA Final Four, concerts, or MMA and boxing. If they did not expand for the Super Bowl, then I do not see it happening for a WC final.

[StefanMUC]

12 hours ago, FYI said:

You forgot about Hard Rock Stadium actually being in Miami Gardens & not Miami, & AT&T stadium actually being in Arlington instead of Dallas, if we're going to be that technical.

But I think taking a cue from your book, baron, the 2026 Final should be where the best VISTAS are to be had!  Like Lumen Field in Seattle (talk about a in-your-face view with that skyline)! And Met Life of course. And maybe Lincoln Field in Philly. Then next probably Mercedes Benz in Atlanta. But then again, that one is covered, so the view of downtown would be skewed of course! 

The only question is: which one has a revolving restaurant?