Straight red: Denver eliminated from 2026 World Cup host city contention

There will likely be no soccer World Cup matches in Denver in 2026. 

FIFA, soccer’s world governing physique, introduced Thursday that Denver’s bid to host video games in the course of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was unsuccessful. 

Denver was considered one of 16 U.S. cities vying to host video games. Unsurprisingly, main coastal cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta and Seattle have been additionally chosen. As a result of the 2026 World Cup is collectively hosted by america, Canada and Mexico, worldwide cities like Vancouver and Mexico Metropolis have been additionally chosen. 

The World Cup gained’t be too removed from soccer followers in Colorado, nevertheless — Dallas, Houston and Kansas Metropolis would be the central U.S. cities representing the area in 2026.  

Rubbing salt into wounds, Denver misplaced out to Kansas Metropolis, a regional frenemy due to the Denver Broncos decades-long rivalry with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

Denver was anticipated to host 5 to 6 video games, probably within the early rounds, if picked. Now they won’t.

Denver’s snub continues a sample of Colorado being excluded from U.S.-hosted World Cups. Of the three World Cups hosted within the U.S., together with two Girls’s World Cups, none have featured Colorado cities as a bunch. 

State officers hosted FIFA final 12 months to make the case why Denver needs to be chosen — they used the town’s transportation, lodging, sustainability and Empower Discipline’s infrastructure as promoting factors — however a number of information shops reported earlier this 12 months that the bid was underwhelming. Behind the scenes, officers tried to lift cash to entice FIFA to decide on Denver, however in the long run, it didn’t appear to be sufficient.

A member of the Denver Sports activities Fee instructed the Related Press this week that Denver had raised — from personal sources — about half the $40 million to $45 million wanted to host the video games.

The town formally unveiled its bid in October of 2021, with U.S. soccer legend and former Colorado Rapids goaltender Tim Howard becoming a member of Mayor Michael Hancock at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive Stadium. Bid committee members appeared optimistic. Denver might boast a world-class airport with straightforward transit entry to downtown, a big stadium with Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive, ample resort capability and loads of vacationer sights. Plus, it’s strategically situated in the midst of the nation, within the Mountain Time Zone.

Denver can also be one of many strongest soccer viewing markets within the nation, rating sixth in general viewership for the newest World Cup, based on the bid committee. 100 thousand Colorado children and adults take part within the sport.

And Denver has one different factor. An altitude of 5280 ft, a possible asset no different potential American bid metropolis might match, one which aligned favorably for internet hosting groups that may even be enjoying at an excellent larger elevation, in Mexico Metropolis.

Organizers touted the advantages for Colorado of a profitable bid. 

The potential financial impression for Denver was estimated by the committee at $360 million. That’s primarily based on the worldwide TV viewers of three.5 billion, elevated tax income from tourism, foot visitors from 450,000 guests spending cash at native companies and an everlasting legacy and recognition as a World Cup host metropolis.

Qatar is ready to host this 12 months’s iteration of the World Cup, which the U.S. Males’s Nationwide Staff has certified for. Matches start in November.

This story is growing and will likely be up to date.