Already destinations, U.S. cities embrace FIFA World Cup 2026

[Deeq A.]

 

Already destinations, U.S. cities embrace FIFA World Cup 2026™

By Brandon Lambert

 

As many as 10 million visitors will head to 11 U.S. cities this summer, helping to turn the FIFA World Cup 2026™ into the largest sporting event in history.

While U.S. host cities like Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco are world-famous, lesser-known U.S. cities are primed to host soccer fans. In Kansas City, Missouri, for instance, Café Corazón owner Dulcinea Herrera says that people underestimate the Midwestern city of 500,000 (in a larger metro area of 2 million). Herrera and other local business owners are preparing for 650,000 visitors for FIFA World Cup 2026™.

In addition to coffee, an American staple, Café Corazón serves yerba mate, a tea popular with South American soccer stars, including Lionel Messi, who will lead Argentina in an early round match scheduled for Kansas City. One of Herrera’s three locations is in the downtown area where officials plan a massive viewing party near the stadium.

White House World Cup Task Force Executive Director Andrew Giuliani calls it “a tremendous privilege” to host the FIFA World Cup 2026™ during the year the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, and says the federal government is working with host cities to ensure a safe and welcoming tournament.

“Hosting the world during this historic year … gives us a chance to show the very best of America — our hospitality and our innovation — while also showcasing the America spirit of which we’re so proud of,” Giuliani said.

Here is an introduction to the 11 U.S. cities that will host international soccer fans:

Atlanta

Atlanta Botanical Gardens (© Adobe)

Famous for peaches, pecans and Southern hospitality, the Georgia state capital is a cultural and economic hub of the South. It boasts the country’s busiest airport and was home to famed Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Atlanta is home to numerous industries, including aerospace and financial technologies, as well as soft drink giant Coca-Cola. The city has several professional sports teams and has hosted three Super Bowls, as well as the 1996 summer Olympics.

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Boston

Fourth of July fireworks in Boston (© Adobe)

The birthplace of the American Revolution, the city of Boston will be fully in celebration mode for the 250th anniversary when the fans arrive. International visitors who are in the city during the July 4th Independence Day celebrations can experience the Boston Pops , a fireworks show over the Charles River set to live music from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Foundation are building soccer fields around Boston to turn the excitement of the city’s seven matches into lasting participation in the sport. Boston previously hosted three FIFA championships: the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in 1999 and 2003.

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Dallas

Pioneer Plaza in Dallas (© Shutterstock)

With its frequent rodeos, Dallas offers an up-close look at America’s cowboy culture. Pioneer Plaza in downtown honors this Western tradition. Even the name of the city’s pro football team, the Dallas Cowboys, references this distinct Western culture.

Dallas will host a tournament-leading nine World Cup matches. The country’s fifth-largest media market, Dallas hosted the International Broadcast Center during the 1994 matches, and its massive convention center will again serve as the tournament’s media hub.

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Houston

A view of Buffalo Bayou with Houston in the background (© Srini Sundarrajan/Adobe)

Home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston has commanded America’s space exploration through landmark achievements, including the first moon landing on July 20, 1969.

With major oil and natural gas resources, Houston is a center of the U.S. energy industry. Local companies are teaming up to support soccer’s growth in the city. This “bayou city” offers visitors cuisine ranging from barbecue and seafood to Mexican-influenced “Tex-Mex.” Houston is also bidding to be a host city for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in 2031.

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Kansas City

Mill Creek Park in Kansas City, Missouri (© Wallace Weeks/Shutterstock)

The Midwestern city called Kansas City straddles parts of two U.S. states — Kansas and Missouri — and is known as the “City of Fountains,” as it has more in use than any other U.S. city. Its famed Power & Light District boasts eight blocks of restaurants where visitors can sample the region’s famous barbecue.

Kansas City’s strong sports culture includes the National Football League’s Chiefs — winners of two of the last three Super Bowls. And the Kansas City Current is the world’s only women’s professional soccer team that plays in a stadium designed especially for women’s soccer. The team draws sellout crowds.

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Los Angeles

Venice Beach Skate Park in Venice, Los Angeles (© Adobe)

While Hollywood gives Los Angeles its reputation as movie capital of the world, a mild climate and famous beaches offer visitors a lot more. Tourists can sample music and cuisine influenced by LA’s large Latin American and Asian American populations. The arresting desert landscape of Joshua Tree National Park is a two-hour drive away.

LA has proven a draw for global soccer stars, as David Beckham of the United Kingdom and Son Heung-min of the Republic of Korea have played for the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC, respectively.

Los Angeles is gearing up to host the Summer Olympics in 2028, after previously hosting the Olympics in 1932 and 1984.

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Miami

South Beach in Miami (© Adobe)

Miami’s Bayfront Park Fan Festival will offer musical performances and stunning ocean views in addition to soccer matches. With its thriving Latin American communities, Miami has long boasted a devoted soccer fan base. The city’s enthusiasm grew even greater when Argentina’s Lionel Messi began playing for the city’s professional club, Inter Miami, in 2023.

Fans looking for adventure can drive an hour to Everglades National Park, a vast wetland wilderness that is home to alligators and flamingos.

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New York/New Jersey

Central Park in New York City (© Isabel Kendzior/Shutterstock)

New York — famous for skyscrapers, Broadway theater and the lights of Times Square — will host the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finals at a stadium in neighboring New Jersey. In addition to bustling sidewalks along rows of restaurants serving every imaginable type of international cuisine, New York offers museums, libraries, walks in Central Park and the iconic Statue of Liberty, a testament to America’s friendship with France.

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Philadelphia

A cobblestone street in Philadelphia (© Adobe)

Having served as an early U.S. capital, Philadelphia is where America’s founding documents were written and is home to the Liberty Bell, which draws 2 million visitors annually. It is the city with the closest ties to the nation’s founding and, appropriately, will host a FIFA World Cup 2026™ match on July 4, the day the United States was founded 250 years earlier.

Known as the “city of brotherly love,” Philadelphia has a passionate fan base that has turned out 26,000 interested volunteers  who want to help support the city’s six planned matches.

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San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge (© Shutterstock)

Known for the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is a city of steep hills, scaled by streetcars and packed with colorful row houses. It’s the northern hub of California’s Silicon Valley, a center of technological innovation. Between matches, fans can visit nearby Napa Valley wineries or check out the stunning vistas of Yosemite National Park.

After hosting American football’s 2026 Super Bowl in February, San Francisco will be ready will to host six FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches.

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Seattle

The Seattle skyline with Mount Rainier in the distance. (© Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)

Known for a drizzly climate, a pedestrian-friendly downtown and a thriving entrepreneurial spirit, Seattle will offer international visitors the chance to sample seafood at Pike’s Place Market and take in a view of the entire city from the Space Needle. Seattle’s pioneering companies include airplane manufacturer Boeing, software developer Microsoft, and Starbucks, which operates in 85 countries.

The city, where the U.S. National Team will make an early-round appearance, plans nine “fan zones” for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, each offering big screens, food and live entertainment.

 

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