Washington, DC Has Been Included in United Bid to Host the 2026 FIFA World Cuptm

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington, DC has been included as an official Candidate Host City in the United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States to host the 2026 FIFA World Cuptm. The United Bid announced its list of 23 Candidate Host Cities that will be included in the Bid Book earlier today. 

The District of Columbia is part of the most comprehensive and far-reaching hosting strategy ever developed for a mega-sporting event. DC is thrilled at the possibility of welcoming the world to a united and inclusive celebration of football in FedExField, offering an advanced and existing stage on which the world's best players will compete.

The full list of Candidate Host Cities can be found below. If the 2026 FIFA World Cuptm is awarded to the United Bid, FIFA will select up to 16 Host Cities from the proposed slate of 23.

"On behalf of the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, Events DC is honored for Washington, DC to have been selected as one of the 23 candidate host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cuptm," said Gregory A. O'Dell, president and CEO at Events DC. "Washington, DC is etched with rich soccer memories and celebrations from across the city whether at the iconic RFK Stadium to FedExField. Joining the United Bid builds on the legacy that DC has cemented as an international soccer city and will inspire the next generation of Washingtonians for years to come."

"Hosting the World Cup in Washington, DC could provide an economic impact of up to $600 million," said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO, Destination DC. "Washington, DC is a destination for sports fans, with incredible professional teams as well as special events. In 2018, we'll host MLB All-Star Week, which will include events for fans at Nationals Park, Yards Park and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. We're thrilled to be included as one of 23 candidates to host the World Cup and welcome soccer fans from around the globe."

"Canada, Mexico, and the United States have joined together to deliver a United Bid that offers FIFA and its member associations the power of unity, the promise of certainty, and the potential of extraordinary opportunity," said John Kristick, Executive Director of the United Bid.  "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."

Canada, Mexico, and the United States require no new stadium construction to stage the 2026 FIFA World Cuptm. Washington, DC, along with the United Bid, will instead be able to work with FIFA to ensure the players, officials, and fans have an extraordinary experience at the largest FIFA World Cuptm ever staged. 

Across every metric, the 2026 FIFA World Cuptm in North America has the potential to deliver something extraordinary for Washington, DC, North American, FIFA, and for football.

The United Bid's final Candidate Host Cities are:

Canada:

• Edmonton
• Montréal
• 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, DC

About Events DC

Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, deliver premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and Maloof Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. The most recent addition is Gateway DC, an innovative and versatile space featuring a covered and open-air pavilion in the center of a 1-acre park, conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media ? Facebook (Events DC), Twitter (@TheEventsDC and @TheEventsDC_SED for the Sports Entertainment and Special Events Division), and Instagram (@EventsDC).

About Destination DC

Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation's capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. washington.org.

About the United Bid Committee

The United Bid Committee was created by the National Federations of Canada, Mexico and the United States to manage the bidding process for the 2026 FIFA World Cuptm.

About The 2026 FIFA World Cuptm

The 2026 FIFA World Cuptm will be the first tournament with the expanded 48-team format and will require world-class facilities and infrastructure to ensure a successful tournament. The United Bid of Canada, Mexico and the United States is uniquely suited to accommodate FIFA's high-level standards for hosting a FIFA World Cuptm. If the United Bid is selected by FIFA as the host for the 2026 FIFA World Cuptm, up to 16 Host Cities will be selected as venues for games. Canada, Mexico and the United States also have a long and successful history as hosts - 13 FIFA World Cupstm have been hosted in Canada, Mexico and the United States, five of which have set attendance records.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Chala Jones
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202-695-9084

SOURCE Events DC