(2026 Brand Annoucement Wednesday 10pm ET on FS1) FIFA WC host cities in NA thread (mascot question as well)

[Buzz Rules]

KC will probably be the USMNT home base since that’s where Pinnacle (US Soccer’s national training center) is.

Each country’s team will have a home base. Canada usually uses Toronto but Vancouver has a nice facility as well.

The MLS currently have over 26 training facilities and USL (minor league) teams have their own as well (some are better than others). Mexico has facilities for each of their club teams. I believe the CPL (Canada’s domestic league) have their own facilities as well.

 

[sam_gordon]

They want the travel for players reduced. Each stadium is getting at least 6 games. I don’t agree with many things FIFA does but I understand their logic. In reality the only confederation FIFA cares about is UEFA because that is where the money (outside of Brazil/Argentina) is. The main reason FIFA approved this:

I understand reducing travel. But did they really do that? Look at Kansas City, Miami, and Atlanta.

Does each stadium get a group or are the groups split up?

 

[Buzz Rules]

I understand reducing travel. But did they really do that? Look at Kansas City, Miami, and Atlanta.

Does each stadium get a group or are the groups split up?

Should be a group. This is going to be a bubble style tournament for at least the group stage. The 48 team format is completely new and is even more cut throat. Usually each group plays 3 times and the top two in the group move on to the knockout rounds. Now each group will have 3 teams instead of 4. Which means if you lose one of your two matches (reduced from 3), you will probably be out. Six matches per stadium at the group stage means 3 different groups at each stadium. Stadiums are usually assigned after the draw (December 2025) and FIFA tries to work with those competing countries’ time zones. So USA will probably be central, Asian countries will probably be based on the west coast, South American teams will probably be in Mexico/southern USA, Europe without a doubt will be put on the east coast, Canada will probably be based in Vancouver, Africa and Middle Eastern countries will probably play on the east coast if possible. This is all speculative and depends on the draw but this is my honest assessment.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I understand reducing travel. But did they really do that? Look at Kansas City, Miami, and Atlanta.

Does each stadium get a group or are the groups split up?

Also, FIFA will probably expand the tournament to 64 teams by 2042. This 48 model was unfavorable to the big countries who always have the most talent to win but enough little countries out voted them to pass the proposal so they could finally have even more of a chance to compete in this tournament.

 

[Buzz Rules]

TSN radio perspective on Canada being a 2026 WC host:

https://post.futurimedia.com/chumam/playlist/126/listen-36823.html?cb=1655470886.676390


https://post.futurimedia.com/chumam/playlist/126/listen-36849.html?cb=1655562881.544466

 

[Buzz Rules]

I just want to point out that after the 2022 WC in November, Canadians and Americans will have several opportunities to see their national teams play in person before 2026. In 2023 the USA will host the Concacaf Gold Cup next summer (our region’s version of the UEFA European Championship). Both the USA and Canada (barring any mess ups in qualifying) will play in it. Details on that should come out around March. The USA or Canada will also hold another edition of the tournament in 2025. The USA and Canada will also compete on home soil for the Concacaf Nations League A trophy (which both nations should being playing in the semi finals if not the final itself) in the summer of 2023/2025 as well. These events are smaller in comparison to the WC (in terms of size and prestige) but they do draw a lot of passionate fans from both our countries and the tickets are usually a lot cheaper compared to WC ticket prices. So if you want to see your national teams in person before the 2026 WC, I suggest you could explore those options as well. Also the Concacaf Gold Cup and Concacaf Nations League are usually broadcasted on common networks for fans to see their national teams. The USA is the defending champion of both tournaments as well.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans, what should our tournament’s mascot be? Every World Cup has one, so what animal should represent North America? Actually it might be 3 mascots since it’s 3 countries for the first time.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Examples from past World Cups:

Current mascot for 2022:

 

[Buzz Rules]

Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans, what should our tournament’s mascot be? Every World Cup has one, so what animal should represent North America? Actually it might be 3 mascots since it’s 3 countries for the first time.

No one has a suggestion for mascots?

 

[sam_gordon]

No one has a suggestion for mascots?

Don't you?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Don't you?

Moose for Canada, American Bison for USA, Ocelot for Mexico. What do you think?

 

[sam_gordon]

I like the Moose idea for Canada. Eagle for US. No idea for Mexico.

ETA: If you use the Eagle, could you get the War Eagle from Auburn and have it fly around the stadium before the US games?

 

[RedAngie]

Gritty would be appropriate for all three countries!!!

 

[Buzz Rules]

I like the Moose idea for Canada. Eagle for US. No idea for Mexico.

ETA: If you use the Eagle, could you get the War Eagle from Auburn and have it fly around the stadium before the US games?

I avoided the eagle for the USA since it’s also Mexico’s national bird. The mascots become highly marketed and merchandised, so they have to be cute and respectful to the countries culture. The eagle flying around could be done though. They already do that at LAFC matches with a falcon.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Gritty would be appropriate for all three countries!!!

View attachment 677936

Bigfoot as a mascot? Lol.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Do you think WDW/DL will be extra busy during the World Cup in 2026?

 

[sam_gordon]

Do you think WDW/DL will be extra busy during the World Cup in 2026?

Depends on the schedule. Will there be enough time between games to get up to WDW from Miami? Depending on what teams are based there and when they play, I could see tourists making a trip up there if they have a couple days, but it is expensive.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Depends on the schedule. Will there be enough time between games to get up to WDW from Miami? Depending on what teams are based there and when they play, I could see tourists making a trip up there if they have a couple days, but it is expensive.

Group stage lasts 2 weeks.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Toronto!! .

https://twitter.com/x/status/1539287327188496384

 

[Buzz Rules]

Depends on the schedule. Will there be enough time between games to get up to WDW from Miami? Depending on what teams are based there and when they play, I could see tourists making a trip up there if they have a couple days, but it is expensive.

https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2022/06/21/2026-world-cup-how-will-it-work/