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Cincinnati A Finalist To Host A World Cup Match In 2026 Soccer Tournament

soccer
Tana Weingartner
/
WVXU
The U.S. Mens National Soccer Team plays Panama in a 2017 Gold Cup match in Nashville.

Updated Wednesday, June 13, 11:50 a.m.

Editor's note: This story first appeared March 15, 2018 and has been updated given today's news that FIFA has selected the U.S., Canada and Mexico bid to host the World Cup in 2026. 

Cincinnati is a finalist to hold a World Cup match after a bid by the U.S., Canada and Mexico was chosen to host the 2026 World Cup.

The USA, Canada and Mexico jointly bid for the event. The United Bid committee previously announced Cincinnati as one of the 23 finalist cities. International soccer's governing body, FIFA, will choose the final 16 host cities.

"We are confident that the combination of our 23 existing world-class stadiums, 150 existing elite training facilities, and our modern and interconnected transportation network can help FIFA to achieve new records for attendance and revenue, which will allow the entire global football community to improve and grow," says John Kristick, executive director of the United Bid in a statement.

Johnna Reeder, president and CEO of REDI Cincinnati, the city's economic development initiative, released a statement following FIFA's acceptance of the joint bid involving Cincinnati. "This is a historic day for the Greater Cincinnati region and for soccer around the world," she says. "It's our time to shine on the world's stage and show that the Greater Cincinnati region is a hotbed for soccer." 

Games in Cincinnati would be played at Paul Brown Stadium.

The United Bid says it envisions selling more than 5.8 million tickets, "generating in excess of $2 billion in ticketing revenue and ensuring every stadium for every match will be filled with passionate supporters from around the world."

The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994.

The 23 finalist cities are:

Canada

  • Edmonton
  • Montreal
  • Toronto 

Mexico

  • Guadalajara 
  • Mexico City 
  • Monterrey 

United States

  • Atlanta 
  • Baltimore 
  • Boston 
  • Cincinnati 
  • Dallas 
  • Denver 
  • Houston 
  • Kansas City 
  • Los Angeles 
  • Miami 
  • Nashville 
  • New York/New Jersey 
  • Orlando 
  • Philadelphia 
  • San Francisco Bay Area 
  • Seattle 
  • Washington, D.C. 
Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.