SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – The World Cup is coming.
Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara has been chosen as one of North America's host sites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico as part of a winning joint bid for the tournament. FIFA officials have said the U.S. will host 60 of the 80 games – including every match from the quarterfinals to the final.
The home of the San Francisco 49ers was among the U.S. cities favored to land World Cup games, but was not considered a "lock" by analysts.
Since the venue opened in July 2014, it has hosted a Super Bowl, the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, big budget concert tours and COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics, among other events that included soccer.
Los Angeles and Seattle were other West Coast cities that made the cut.
The U.S. men's national team – along with counterparts from Mexico and Canada – will receive an automatic bid to the 2026 World Cup as is traditional for host nations. It's not known what teams will play at Levi's Stadium or what rounds the site will host. That will be determined at a later time.
The U.S. last hosted a World Cup in 1994.
Six matches were hosted at Stanford Stadium during that tournament, highlighted by the U.S. losing 1-0 to eventual champion Brazil in the Round of 16. Over 80,000 fans attended the game.
The Bay Area's 2026 Bid Team hosted an outdoor private viewing of the globally-televised FIFA announcement on Thursday.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Related
Related
Related
