Host City: What are the expected benefits of hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 in Baltimore?

Terry Hasseltine: To show off Baltimore in the brightest light featuring a world cup soccer event would be invaluable for the city of Baltimore. Local residents would see just how special Charm City is and its capabilities of hosting an event of this magnitude. Restaurants would be booming with local as well as out of town visitors wanting to stay close to all the action, from the FIFA Fan Fest to all the other events that will take place in the Inner Harbor and its surrounding areas. Soccer fanatics across the globe will realize that with Baltimore’s rich history, fine arts scene, as well as sports culture and exciting nightlife, this is “The Baltimore you’re missing.”

Host City: Is Maryland looking to bid for other major international events, and why?

Terry Hasseltine: Maryland is continuously looking for international event opportunities to grow national and international awareness for our state and major cities. With four international airports in close proximity, major highways and the Amtrak, Maryland is easily accessible for all to travel. It is also important to us to have visitors and tourists travel here and experience Maryland for themselves. Within a short drive, one can visit our nation’s capital, the Appalachian Mountains, Atlantic Ocean and much more.

Host City: How important is it to host national sports events, e.g. NCAA tournaments, MLS?

Terry Hasseltine: Very important. From 2019-2022, the NCAA DI (and DIII for 2021) Women’s Lacrosse Championships will be held at Johns Hopkins University as well as Towson University. This draws fans, parents and family from around the nation to our state for several days. We want to create a positive and impactful experience for all to make visitors want to come back each year we host the event.

Host City: What part does hosting major non-sports events play in Maryland’s economic development strategy?

Terry Hasseltine: Hosting non-sports events plays a huge role in Maryland’s economic development strategy. Events such as Artscape, America’s largest free arts festival, attracting over 350,000+ attendees over three days draws a significant number of visitors to Baltimore and its surrounding areas. Air Force Service Shows that highlight the Blue Angels and others are large tourism draws for military. Several food and beverage festivals are taking place through downtown Baltimore, Annapolis and other cities that tourists and visitors travel to from out-of-state. This means generated hotel revenue, tourists in our local shops and restaurants, as well as exploring the area positively, making them want to come back in the future.

Host City: How important is it for you to learn from other cities about best practice in hosting major events?

Terry Hasseltine: It is crucial to explore other cities’ major events in order to make our events throughout the state successful. Attending and playing a role in another city’s event can give us the behind-the-scenes knowledge and first-hand experiences for what is successful and what is not, dependent on the area, for our events. The best way to learn is through experiences and conversations with other destinations and venues, which is an important tool we use when attracting major events to Baltimore and the State of Maryland.

On April 10 CONCACAF member nations the United States, Canada and Mexico declared their intention to formally submit a unified bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

The unified bid, which would represent the first time that three nations would jointly host a FIFA competition, was announced in New York by US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, CONCACAF and Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani, and Federación Mexicana de Fútbol president Decio de Maria.

Gulati said: "This is a milestone day for US Soccer and for CONCACAF. We gave careful consideration to the prospect of bidding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and ultimately feel strongly this is the right thing for our region and for our sport. Along with our partners from the Canadian Soccer Association and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, we are confident that we will submit an exemplary bid worthy of bringing the FIFA World Cup back to North America.

"The United States, Mexico and Canada have individually demonstrated their exceptional abilities to host world-class events. When our nations come together as one, as we will for 2026, there is no question the United States, Mexico and Canada will deliver an experience that will celebrate the game and serve players, supporters and partners alike.”

The three nations have hosted 13 FIFA World Cups combined (Men’s, Women’s and Youth), which is more than any other trio of geographically connected nations, and set attendance records for five of those events. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first with the expanded 48-team format, requiring facilities and infrastructure that these countries are uniquely suited to fulfill.

The US hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1994, which served as the catalyst to launch Major League Soccer in 1996, which today fields 19 teams in the US and three in Canada. In addition, the USA welcomed the world for the 1999 and 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cups.

Mexico was the first nation to host the FIFA World Cup for the second time, having first held the event in 1970. In 1986, the Argentine team captained by Diego Maradona captured their second title in three tournaments. El Tri became the first host country to win the FIFA Confederations Cup, collecting the title on home soil in 1999. They repeated that feat at the youth level with a victory in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

“For the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, and the entire Mexican soccer family, it is a source of pride to be candidates, along with the United States and Canada, to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026,” said de Maria.

“We have a unique opportunity to be the first country to host three World Cups.  As such we are filled with pride and committed to make it the best ever. Mexico has been recognised for being a magnificent host of past FIFA events, such as the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, the 1999 Confederations Cup, the 2011 Under-17 World Cup, and most recently the 2016 FIFA Congress.

"If we are selected to host, it will be an honour to welcome everyone with open arms.”

Canada hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, which featured an expanded 24-nation field with matches played in six cities in five time zones. With record setting attendance for any FIFA event outside of the FIFA World Cup, more than 1.35 million spectators and nearly 25 million in the United States alone watched the final on FOX.

Canada has hosted five FIFA tournaments, including the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup Canada 2002 where the 47,784 final match crowd remains the largest on record for any FIFA women’s youth competition, and the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 drew a then-record 1.2 million fans in six Canadian cities.

“Canada Soccer is honoured to partner with fellow CONCACAF member associations USA and Mexico to bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said Canadian Soccer president Victor Montagliani.  

“Canada is the only remaining G-8 nation to have not hosted a FIFA World Cup despite our history of success in raising the bar for youth and women's FIFA tournaments.  

"We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration with fellow CONCACAF member associations U.S. Soccer and Federación Mexicana de Fútbol under the FIFA Council principles for joint bids and to continue our tradition of hosting record-breaking international events."

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has warned the United States and Great Britain that travel restrictions and immigration policies could have a negative effect on hosting future tournaments and finals.

The United States is one of the favourites to host the 2026 World Cup, but if President Donald Trump’s proposed travel restrictions are approved then it will “not help” the US bid.

Čeferin, who is also a FIFA vice-president, told the New York Times: “It will be part of the evaluation, and I am sure it will not help the United States to get the World Cup.

“If players cannot come because of political decisions, or populist decisions, then the World Cup cannot be played there. It is true for the United States, but also for all the other countries that would like to organise a World Cup.

“It is the same for the fans, and the journalists, of course. It is the World Cup. They should be able to attend the event, whatever their nationality is. But let’s hope that it does not happen.”   

The Slovenian also warned Britain that immigration policies after Brexit could affect the UK’s chances of hosting major European football finals.

“If ‘Brexit’ happens, everything changes,” said Ceferin. “But football was played before, and it will be played in the future. Now, with free movement in the European Union, it is much better.”

Last year Paris St-Germain defender Serge Aurier was denied entry to Britain to play in a Champions League match against Arsenal. Aurier had been convicted for assault and was appealing the conviction. This is a concern for Čeferin.

“I was very disappointed when Aurier, from P.S.G., was not allowed to enter England,” he said. “That will worsen when ‘Brexit’ happens, especially if the reasons were as formal. We could have a serious problem.

“But if we see that players cannot enter because they have any sort of procedure ongoing, then we will simply think if we should play our European matches there.

“Neymar and Lionel Messi both have procedures going on. This year, the Champions League final is in Cardiff. Imagine if they did not let them in?

“That is a big thing for us, if players from England can travel anywhere but players from other teams cannot travel to England. With free movement in Europe, it is much better.

“Even in 2020, if ‘Brexit’ has happened, then it can be a big problem for fans. That stays firm, and we will speak to the British government, and I am sure the English Football Association will help us.”