As Mexico, Canada and the United States bid to host the 2026 World Cup, area executives are working to bring some of the matches to Maryland’s NFL Stadiums.
Soccer fans will be glad to hear that Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are two of 32 North American cities working on a bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The bid is possible through a joint effort by the U.S., Canada and Mexico called the United Bid Committee. The United Bid Committee is competing against Morocco to be the host of the 2026 matches, which will be announced by FIFA in June.
Last week in Houston, representatives from North American Cities gathered for a workshop to present their individual bids to the Committee with hopes that a successful North American bid would result in their city being selected. Maryland is home to two NFL stadiums -- the Washington Redskins Stadium at FedEx Field in Landover, and the home field of the Baltimore Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium near the city’s Inner Harbor.
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While FedEx Field and M&T Bank Stadium are located within a 40-mile radius of one another, both the bids of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore are separate bids being supported by separate organizations.
Maryland’s Stadium Authority and Sports Commission are working side by side with government organizations to make Baltimore’s bid, while Washington, D.C.’s bid is being led by Destination DC and Events DC.
Washington, D.C. has previously hosted World Cup matches in 1994 at RFK stadium, the former home field of the Redskins. Washington also has its own Major League Soccer Franchise, the D.C. United, which is a plus in making a bid to the Committee as the D.C. area is home to many soccer fans. Baltimore and D.C.'s individual bids will be helped by their mutual proximity to one another and the fact that other nearby cities such as Philadelphia and New York could be selected together, with the two area stadiums to ease travel for World Cup teams, fans and organizers.
If North America is selected to host, the United Bid Committee will then choose the specific cities. The announcement is set to be made sometime in 2021.
What are your thoughts? Do you think North America will be selected, and ultimately, Maryland and D.C.? Let us know in the comments below.
