World Cup 2026: FIFA President makes bold predictions about sport

FIFA President Gianni Infantino made a bold prediction on Thursday as the Football Association announced the venues for the 2026 World Cup.

The next World Cup will be held in three countries for the first time. The United States, Mexico and Canada will all be involved in putting together one of the world’s greatest sporting events. Infantino said he predicted football would be the biggest sport on the continent by that point.

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Fans wait along 6th Avenue for the announcement of the FIFA host cities for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in New York.
(AP Photo/Noah K Murray)

“By 2026, football – or futbol – will be the #1 sport in this part of the world,” he said.

The NFL and even college football dominate the airwaves, and it seems like pro football never really stops providing monthly coverage of the sport.

The NFL averaged 17.1 million television and digital viewers during the 2021 season, while the 2018 World Cup in Russia averaged 5.04 million on English- and Spanish-language US television.

“They lead the world in many areas. The goal must be that you also lead the world in world No. 1 sport,” Infantino said of North America.

CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, who oversees the region’s football association, added: “I know it was giggles and laughter. He wasn’t kidding.”

PLAYGROUNDS OF THE WORLD CUP 2026 WILL BE HELD AS A TOURNAMENT IN 3 COUNTRIES

The locations were divided into three regions.

Western region

• Vancouver, Canada (BC Palace)
• Seattle, Washington (Lumen Field)
• Santa Clara, California (Levi’s Stadium)
• Los Angeles, California (SoFi Stadium)
• Guadalajara, Mexico (Estadio Akron)

central region

• Kansas City, Missouri (Arrowhead Stadium)
• Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium)
• Atlanta, Georgia (Mercedes Benz Stadium)
• Houston, Texas (NRG Stadium)
• Monterrey, Mexico (Estadio BBVA)
• Mexico City, Mexico (Estadio Azteca)

eastern region

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, left, and New York Mayor Eric Adams speak at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Host City Watch Party at Liberty State Park in Jersey on Thursday, June 16, 2022 City.
(AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

• Toronto, Canada (BMO Field)
• Foxborough, Massachusetts (Gillette Stadium)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Lincoln Financial Field)
• Miami Gardens, Florida (Hard Rock Stadium)
• East Rutherford, New Jersey (MetLife Stadium)

It will be the first 48-nation World Cup to be expanded from the 32-team system used since 1998. There will be 16 groups from three nations. Each team plays two first-round games instead of three, and one nation in each group opens against an opponent who has already played.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino answers questions during a press conference on the 2026 FIFA World Cup in New York on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
(AP Photo/Noah K Murray)

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The top two teams in each group advance to a 32-nation KO group.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.