FIFA WC USA-Mexico-Canada 2026

[SportLightning]

 

And here are the groups for Round 2:

 

[Quaker2001]

SoFi Stadium owners threaten to pull out of 2026 FIFA World Cup, it is claimed

 

Quote

 

Owners of the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have reportedly threatened to pull out of hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup matches as part of a dispute over revenue distribution.

The 70,240-capacity venue, due to host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, is the world's most expensive stadium at an estimated $5.5 billion (£4.5 billion/€5.2 billion), and opened in September 2020.

It was among the 11 venues in the United States selected last year to host matches at the expanded World Cup, along with three in Mexico and two in Canada.

However, The Athletic reports owner Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) is unhappy with how revenue is set to be shared between FIFA, host cities and the stadiums and seeking to renegotiate the agreement.

It is claimed KSE, founded by Stan Kroenke in 1999, has warned it could withdraw from hosting World Cup matches, although how serious it is about this threat is unclear.

The Athletic also reported FIFA has found American cities and stadium owners tough negotiators for the 2026 World Cup.

However, the governing body insisted it enjoyed a strong relationship with organisers in all 16 host cities.

 

 

[SportLightning]

Dallas is the favorite to host the final. The match schedule will be revealed at the end of this year.

[Quaker2001]

1 hour ago, SportLightning said:

Dallas is the favorite to host the final. The match schedule will be revealed at the end of this year.

I think they'll get it.  More seats than MetLife, they have a roof so weather isn't an issue.  They can put the semis in LA and NY/NJ and say it's equal travel distance from both sites.  I would like to hope that NY/NJ will at least get a US match.  Can only imagine how much tickets for that one will go for.  Probably slightly more than what I paid for tickets in Australia/New Zealand

[stryker]

4 hours ago, Quaker2001 said:

I think they'll get it.  More seats than MetLife, they have a roof so weather isn't an issue.  They can put the semis in LA and NY/NJ and say it's equal travel distance from both sites.  I would like to hope that NY/NJ will at least get a US match.  Can only imagine how much tickets for that one will go for.  Probably slightly more than what I paid for tickets in Australia/New Zealand

Interestingly just a couple of weeks ago, Infantino was in Jerry Jones' suite for a Dallas Cowboys game against ironically the New York Jets. When Infantino was shown on the jumbotron there was a fairly loud chorus of boos.

[FYI]

Another article on the topic, moved from the last page of this thread: 

World Cup 2026: Could climate crisis impact the men's tournament?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66211285.amp

 

[Durban Sandshark]

On 10/9/2023 at 7:56 AM, Quaker2001 said:

I think they'll get it.  More seats than MetLife, they have a roof so weather isn't an issue.  They can put the semis in LA and NY/NJ and say it's equal travel distance from both sites.  I would like to hope that NY/NJ will at least get a US match.  Can only imagine how much tickets for that one will go for.  Probably slightly more than what I paid for tickets in Australia/New Zealand

Along with those, Jerry Jones obviously would more than certainly LOVE to showcase grand events like a World Cup final inside his Jerryworld stadium he likes to promote. Plus, Dallas holds a very strong soccer culture locally that's cultivated through several decades and realms there at multiple levels, starting with the old NASL's Dallas Tornados that the late Lamar Hunt owned. Like with the Super Bowl it hosted several years ago, it can raise the temporary seating capacity albeit much better than then I guess.

You would safely assume given that they're the top 2 US cities and holders of the most global cache, the World Cup final would HAVE to be in either Los Angeles or New York.  

[baron-pierreIV]

MiGod, that thing is still 3 years away.  Won't really know like 4 months before.  

[stryker]

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/los-angeles-may-miss-out-on-2026-world-cup-after-rams-owners-dispute-with-fifa/

Can't say I'm surprised by this at all. Stan Kroenke is not going to remove his luxury boxes at SoFi just to accommodate a bigger field for the WC.

Hard to see WC stateside without a Los Angeles area venue though. The old Rose Bowl isn't an option unless someone is going to splurge for the massive renovation including replacing all the bleachers with chair back seats.

[FYI]

And San Diego's new Snapdragon stadium is too piddly, other than for some opening, maybe mid-matches.

 

[Rob2012]

SoFI shouldn't have bid if it couldn't accommodate the right sized pitch. The new stadium in Las Vegas looks more accommodating for soccer, but they didn't seem interested in hosting.

[Durban Sandshark]

Emerging that New York/New Jersey's MetLife Stadium (actually in East Rutherford, New Jersey), home of the New York Giants and Jets, will sacrifice 1740 seats to accomodate FIFA's demands for a widening soccer field and likely compete against Los Angeles's SoFi Stadium with hopes of landing the final, something I expected it would host. Not to mention tensions rising over in LA over its stadium. Wasn't really aware that the football area dimensions are smaller than FIFA's mandate--NFL is 53.3-by-120 yards with the world football’s governing body specifies that a 75-by-115 yard field is required for World Cup games. Really FIFA obviously knows it can't have a US World Cup without New York being involved; did allow it for 1994. Maybe this will place some serious consideration for newer NFL/NCAA stadia to be more adjusting to FIFA in the future:

https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2024/01/05/metlife-stadium-to-remove-seats-to-boost-2026-world-cup-claims/

[Bear]

Match schedule will be announced on February 4 at 12 PM PST / 3 PM EST / 8 PM GMT.

[SportLightning]

5 hours ago, Bear said:

Match schedule will be announced on February 4 at 12 PM PST / 3 PM EST / 8 PM GMT.

Along with the venue for the final?

[Bear]

26 minutes ago, SportLightning said:

Along with the venue for the final?

Yep! They didn't specify in the post I saw, but I just looked up the actual press release and they do mention it:

https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/news/fifa-world-cup-2026-tm-match-schedule-to-be-announced-on-4-february

"Match schedule announcement will include host city match allocations for the 104 matches of the tournament in 2026, as well as the locations of key matches, including the biggest showpiece match, the FIFA World Cup 26 final"

[baron-pierreIV]

It's got to be the Meadowlands.  What if Texas secedes before 2026?  There goes that match!! 

[Rob2012]

 

[Quaker2001]

Suck it, Dallas!!!

Someone tell New Jersey transit to get their act together so they don't have a repeat of the mess they created when the Super Bowl was here

[FYI]

So much for all the "reports" (along with sportlighting's "predictions" - nashville anyone lol) that Dallas was getting the final.

[SportLightning]

1 hour ago, FYI said:

So much for all the "reports" (along with sportlighting's "predictions" - nashville anyone lol) that Dallas was getting the final.

I didn't say Nashville anyone, You're just dumb..

[SportLightning]

Anyway here is the brand identity for the three countries that represents its cultures and diversity.

[FYI]

7 minutes ago, SportLightning said:

I didn't say Nashville anyone, You're just dumb..

I know you didn't say Nashville anymore. I'm talking about when you DID a couple of years ago. Just like now with Dallas. In other words, your so-called 'predictions' are "just dumb" & WRONG every time.

[Bear]

well I personally am glad that LA and SoFi continues to remain as hosts despite all those reports saying that we might have to drop out over the size of the field...

[baron-pierreIV]

On 2/2/2024 at 2:32 PM, baron-pierreIV said:

It's got to be the Meadowlands.   

RIGHT AGAIN!!  So, which Euro nation will face MEXICO for the opener?  GERMANY? 

[StefanMUC]

3 hours ago, baron-pierreIV said:

RIGHT AGAIN!!  So, which Euro nation will face MEXICO for the opener?  GERMANY? 

Given our recent track record, I wouldn‘t count on qualifying yet.