US host cities outline legacy vision for 2026 FIFA World Cup
New York: One year ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, representatives from all 11 United States host cities have presented plans to ensure the tournament drives long-term community impact, from cultural equity and infrastructure to youth sports access.
At a panel held Monday at the Paley Center for Media in New York, host city officials shared initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural inclusion, expanding youth opportunities, and investing in public infrastructure.
Among the most detailed efforts is Seattle's Chinese American Art Legacy Project, a 250,000 U.S. dollars city-funded program designed to highlight the historical contributions of Chinese Americans in the city's Chinatown-International District, reports Xinhua.
April Putney, speaking for Seattle's host committee, said the project reflects the city's "people-based legacy" approach. "We're working hand-in-hand with local communities," Putney said. "It's not just about hosting matches, it's about who gets to be part of the story."
In response to a question from Xinhua, Putney said that the Chinatown district - located just steps from the stadium - is central to Seattle's fan and cultural programing. "We want local businesses and residents to benefit directly," she added.
Other cities are taking similarly localized approaches: Los Angeles is awarding grants to community nonprofits; Miami is curating a culturally immersive Fan Festival; Kansas City is piloting a new regional transit model; and Dallas is investing in youth soccer infrastructure and media capacity.
While FIFA oversees the tournament's competitive structure, U.S. cities are focused on making the event inclusive and locally meaningful. Free public viewing zones, grassroots partnerships, and regional branding efforts are part of a broader strategy to use the World Cup as a platform for long-term civic benefit.
The 2026 tournament will span 16 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with the United States hosting 60 matches, including the final.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Why is Al Nassr not playing in FIFA Club World Cup?
Less than 15 days after the end of European season, club football will be back as United States hosts the big-budget reboot of the FIFA Club World Cup, featuring 32 of the highest-ranked teams from world football. The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will launch the showpiece on June 15 (IST). Al Nassr gained global attention after Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League club following the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, the Knights of Najd will not feature in the tournament despite winning the AFC Champions League in the 2023/24 season. ALSO READ | What are the new innovations and rule changes in play at FIFA Club World Cup 2025? 32 teams. 1 trophy. The #FIFACWC is coming. 🔜 — FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 3, 2025 Why is Al Nassr not playing in FIFA Club World Cup? The qualification system for this edition was based on continental performance over the last four years. Unfortunately, Al-Nassr didn't accumulate enough ranking points to make the cut. ALSO READ | Will Cristiano Ronaldo play in FIFA Club World Cup 2025? Where did Al Nassr finish in Saudi Pro League in the last four seasons? 2024/25 - Third 2023/24 - Second 2022/23 - Second 2021/22 - Third
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
FIFPro says research shows footballers need mid-season break
Professional football must adopt match limits, mid-season breaks and compulsory summer holidays to safeguard players, a report commissioned by international union FIFPro said on Thursday. FIFPro said in a statement a study of 'calendar congestion and excessive workload' by 70 specialists working in professional men's football for clubs and national teams had recommended safety standards which, it said, international football lacks. It made 12 recommendations and highlighted several in a press release. These included mandatory four-week off-season breaks, with two of those commitment free and mandatory mid-season breaks. It also wanted minimum four-week retraining periods after off-season breaks before players return to competition To manage travel fatigue management football should ensure rest periods after long-haul flights Specific workload safeguards should be introduced for players under 21. It also urged 'seasonal match limits and fixture congestion controls'. 'Decoding the human body, performance, and sport-related injuries will be a lifelong scientific exercise for all of us,' Dr. Darren Burgess, Chair of the FIFPro High-Performance Advisory Network, said. ALSO READ | Who will play FIFA CWC 2025? 'However, the results of this study show that there are certain minimum standards such as adequate rest between matches, and proper off-season breaks, that are common sense, aligned with scientific evidence and, above all, required by global occupational health and safety standards.' The Dutch-based organisation released the report three days before Sunday's kick off of FIFA's expanded mid-summer Club World Cup in the United States. FIFPro has led criticism of the lucrative 32-team tournament which has been crammed into an already overloaded schedule.
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
FIFPro Releases Report Slamming FIFA Over Congested Schedule; Demands Changes For Player Well-Being
Last Updated: FIFPro's report called for match limits, mid-season breaks, and mandatory summer holidays to protect footballers from excessive workload and calendar congestion. Enough is enough. Footballers, just like other athletes, deserve rest too. Professional football must introduce match limits, mid-season breaks, and compulsory summer holidays to protect players, a report commissioned by FIFPro stated on Thursday. FIFPro is the global players' union while European Leagues brings together more than one thousand clubs from 33 countries around Europe. Its member leagues include the English Premier League, as well as the leagues in Italy, Germany and France, but not La Liga, which joined the complaint separately. Citing recent European court rulings related to the breakaway Super League and the Lassana Diarra case, the FIFPro ealier last year had said FIFA's rules and conduct 'harm the economic interests of national leagues, and the health and safety of players in European football". 'A legal challenge before the European Commission has become a necessary course of action to safeguard the European football sector," they added. FIFA has been accused of a failure to consult over recent changes to the calendar, such as the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup, which has drawn much criticism regarding player well-being. To substantiate their earlier grievances, FIFPro now announced that a study on 'calendar congestion and excessive workload" by 70 specialists working in professional men's football for clubs and national teams recommended safety standards, which, according to the report, international football currently lacks. The report made 12 recommendations and highlighted several in a press release. These included mandatory four-week off-season breaks, with two of those weeks being commitment-free, and compulsory mid-season breaks. It also advocated for a minimum four-week retraining period after off-season breaks before players return to competition. On top of it all, in order to manage travel fatigue, the report mentioned that governing bodies should ensure rest periods after long-haul flights. It was also noted that specific workload safeguards should be introduced for players under 21, while urging 'seasonal match limits and fixture congestion controls" across all levels of football. FIFPro has led criticism of the lucrative 32-team tournament, which has been crammed into an already overloaded schedule. The FIFA Club World Cup is set to take place from June 14. First Published: June 12, 2025, 18:32 IST
