I mention this, because Minneapolis has advanced as a potential host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We are now among 32 cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States vying to be included in the official United Bid Committee’s proposal to FIFA. As with other major sporting events, criteria for host cities include the city’s profile, stadium and support facilities (including training sites and hotels) and services (e.g., transportation).

Just this week, a new survey confirms broad support for this three-country bid. The survey reveals that “77 percent of North American residents are in favor of hosting” the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and more than 80 percent of those polled “agree that hosting the tournament would be good for their specific country.” The survey results can be found here.

Sports Minneapolis, Powered by Meet Minneapolis, is playing an instrumental role in the bid process for our city. Members of our team are headed to Houston, in November, for an official Host City Information Session. Each city will meet with a group of Bid Committee staff, advisers, and other experts for an in-depth discussion on preparing the official hosting documents needed at this stage of the bid process.

The abundance of sporting events already finding a home here demonstrates our capabilities and growth as a city. We look forward to this new opportunity to illustrate the ways in which Minneapolis is a destination on a global stage.

Request for proposals are due in early January and will be submitted to the tri-nation United Bid Committee. United will include 20-25 venues in its final submission to FIFA, in March. Finally, FIFA’s decision regarding the 2026 international host is expected in June.

I look forward to keeping you up-to-date on the progress of this exciting opportunity for our city.