Officially, North America’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup launched last April. But it really started over a decade ago.
On Wednesday, we’ll learn if all the work pays off.
In early 2007 the U.S. Soccer Federation set out to bring the world’s biggest sporting event here for the first time since 1994. The U.S. men weren’t good enough to win it on the field, but could win it off the field.
The bid evolved over time. It first aimed at 2014 or 2018, then settled on 2022. It promised record-breaking ticket sales and sponsorship revenue, with games played in the world’s finest stadiums.