BAY AREA HOST COMMITTEE WORLD CUP 2026 PLANNING UPDATE: OCTOBER 2023
In three years, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will descend upon North America, and as one of 16 host cities across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, our planning efforts are heating up. In the spirit of keeping our incredible Bay Area community updated on our progress and priorities, I’m pleased to share our first official World Cup Planning Update.
Where we were
We began this journey with unanimous support for the bid from regional stakeholders, including the City of Santa Clara where Levi’s Stadium will serve as the home for matches coming to the Bay Area. At the heart of this resounding enthusiasm is the ability of the World Cup to benefit our economy and create lasting positive memories, which, in keeping with current agreements, will have no cost impact on Santa Clara taxpayers.
Since that time, we have established collaborative information sharing and event cooperation activity between all key parties, ensuring that stakeholders are informed at major milestones of the process. This allows us to work in close partnership with City and stadium staff on event preparations to lay a strong foundation for a successful World Cup in 2026.
Where we are today
Like other World Cup hosts, operational and logistical planning will further progress once matches are allocated to each venue. In the meantime, we are starting the process by planning around the things we know. This includes mapping the stadium and field footprint to allocate space for extensive safety protocols, prospecting various Fan Fest engagement sites that will offer immersive World Cup experiences for the entire community, and engaging with business and government leaders to scale public transit and other accommodations as we prepare to welcome thousands of visitors from around the world.
We are also participating in positive and productive conversations with FIFA and other U.S. host cities on a regular basis. This collaboration is helping us to find efficiencies and share learnings as we work together to bring the World Cup to life in 2026.
Looking ahead
FIFA delegates will be visiting the Bay Area in the coming weeks as part of their host city tour, which kicked off in Miami and will culminate in Vancouver in late November. These visits are part of ongoing assessments of existing tournament infrastructure and match operations as we gear up for the biggest sporting event in history. We also expect FIFA to announce the allocation of matches across all host cities before the end of the year. These are critical steps that will lead to more clarity around the resources and logistics that will be necessary for a seamless event.
This is just the beginning, and we won’t be doing it alone. As part of our commitment to the future vibrancy of the region, we are spending a considerable amount of time with the public and private sector to build a legacy that positively impacts the entire region. The World Cup presents an opportunity to unite the Bay Area through sport, and done right, this event has the power to build pride, connect our local communities, and reenergize the entire region.
I look forward to sharing additional updates as we move forward.
Thank you,
Zaileen Janmohamed
CEO, Bay Area Host Committee