June 16, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – San Jose Earthquakes News Release
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – FIFA today announced the selection of the San Francisco Bay Area as an official host community for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ that will be played across Canada, Mexico and the United States. In a globally televised live announcement from New York City, the Bay Area was included among the communities that will host matches during the first 48-team field in tournament history. With a record 80 matches, the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ is expected to result in millions of dollars in economic impact, hundreds of thousands of fans traveling to the Bay Area, and thousands of full-time jobs.
The announcement confirms Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara as the region’s only venue for hosting matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup that is primed to shatter previous attendance records for the event, with more than 2 million tickets forecast to be sold. The record for the highest-attended FIFA World Cup™ in history still dates back to 1994 when the United States – and the Bay Area – hosted the event for the first time. Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto was the region’s first FIFA World Cup™ venue with Levi’s Stadium now set to become the second. Since opening in 2014, Levi’s Stadium has established itself as a popular home for world-class soccer showcases, including the 2016 Copa América Centenario, the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup, and multiple International Champions Cups.
“From 2017 when we first unveiled our participation in the United Bid, to 2021 when we hosted FIFA and showed their delegation around our beautiful region, the Bay Area 2026 Bid team has remained confident that this day would come,” shared Al Guido, 49ers President and Bay Area Host Committee Board President . “Over the past eight years, innovative technology, sustainability and fan-focused design elements have cemented Levi’s Stadium among the premier sports and entertainment venues in the country. This venue was made to host events like the FIFA World Cup™, an event that will generate ongoing economic activity for our region for the next four years and beyond.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to bring the world’s largest sporting event to our passionate and diverse Bay Area community. While we will celebrate today, tomorrow marks the beginning of a long and fulfilling road to our first FIFA World Cup match in 2026,” said Patricia Ernstrom, Bay Area Host Committee Executive Director . “We have enjoyed the…
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