Is Denver hosting 2026 World Cup matches? No, and here’s why

Yet again, there will be no World Cup action in Denver.

Despite being considered a premier United States soccer market, Colorado’s capital city won’t host any matches in the sport’s biggest global event.

Denver was not selected as one of 16 North American cities (11 in the U.S.) to host games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup from June 11-July 19.

This is the fourth World Cup (two women’s, two men’s) with games held on U.S. soil. Colorado has still never hosted a World Cup match.

Denver put in a bid for the 2026 World Cup, with the Denver Broncos’ home of Empower Field at Mile High being the potential host site. FIFA ultimately did not select the Mile High City.

The 2022 announcement was disappointing for one of America’s premier soccer markets.

Colorado has hosted dozens of U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Team matches, many of them at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. Empower Field has welcomed soccer events like the CONCACAF Gold Cup, League of Nations and international friendlys.

The state has also produced abundant high-level soccer talent, including impact players like Sophia Wilson (née Smith) and Mallory Swanson (née Pugh) for the USWNT.

However, FIFA chose Dallas; Houston; and Kansas City, Missouri; alongside Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara in Mexico as a Central Region cluster to minimize travel distance and logistics.

This is the first World Cup since the event expanded from 32 to 48 teams, meaning 104 total matches. Each site will host between four and nine matches during the tournament.

Why isn’t Denver hosting World Cup matches?

Former soccer writer Grant Wahl said Denver’s relative geographic isolation combined with an “underwhelming host committee” were factors working against the city’s host hopes.

Elevation was also floated as a negative factor by Denver’s bid committee back in 2022, according to 9News.

That explanation is unlikely, given that Mexico City (7,350 feet) and Guadalajara (5,138 feet) sit above or comparable to Denver’s famed 5,280 feet of elevation.

Another possible factor? Money.

Several states with host sites approved tax breaks, funding boosts or stadium improvements to match FIFA requests, the Associated Press reported.

Colorado did not. Per CPR, neither Gov. Jared Polis nor then-Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock approved funds or pushed for legislation to lure the World Cup.

Denver’s bid committee estimated a cost of $40-45 million to host matches with an aggressive potential local economic impact estimate of $360 million.

2026 World Cup host sites

Western Region

• Los Angeles
• San Francisco Bay Area
• Seattle
• Vancouver (Canada)

Central Region

• Dallas
• Guadalajara (Mexico)
• Houston
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Mexico City (Mexico)
• Monterrey (Mexico)

Eastern Region

• Atlanta
• Boston
• Miami
• New York/New Jersey
• Philadelphia
• Toronto (Canada)

Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.