The United States’ Bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup
“The World’s Grandest Theater”
The Details The 21st FIFA World Cup would take place between 8 June and 8 July 2018. For the first time in World Cup history, every one of 12 stadiums would have a seating capacity of over 60,000, promising loud and electric crowds at every match. All twelve host cities have over 17,000 hotel rooms in the city proper, with thousands more in outlying areas. Each stadium is within 35 miles of an Amtrak train station. All of the host cities maintain airports that consistently handle at least 17,000 passengers each day. Even if stadiums are filled to just 95% capacity, a U.S. World Cup would shatter the cumulative attendance record (3.6 million in 1994) by over one million fans All twelve hosts have a metropolitan area population of over 1.9 million, which will create a festive atmosphere in each city. The stadium sites have been carefully chosen by the bid committee to ensure each match is played in a city that is passionate for football. Nine of the host cities are also home to Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs. We have also chosen venues that are state-of-the-art. Eleven of the twelve stadiums have either opened or been extensively renovated since 2000.
Washington, D.C.
Name: New Redskins Stadium Location: Washington, D.C. Major Area Events: 1994 FIFA World Cup Capacity: 90,000 Opening: 2016 1996 Olympics Football Site Hosting: Group, R. of 16, Finals 2003 Women’s World Cup Major Airports: Washington Dulles International (24.7 million annual passengers) Baltimore-Washington International (21.0 million annual passengers) Ronald Reagan Washington National (18.5 million annual passengers)
New York
Name: New Meadowlands Stadium Location: East Rutherford, NJ Major Area Events: 1994 FIFA World Cup Capacity: 82,500 Opening: 2010 1999 Women’s World Cup Hosting: Group, Quarters, 3rd 2008 MLB All-Star Game Major Airports: John F. Kennedy International (47.8 million annual passengers) Newark Liberty International (36.3 million annual passengers) LaGuardia Airport (25.3 million annual passengers)
Los Angeles
Name: Los Angeles Stadium Location: Industry, CA Major Area Events: Capacity: 80,000 1984 Summer Olympics Opening: 2012 1994 FIFA World Cup Final Hosting: Group, R. of 16, Semis 1999 Women’s World Cup Final Major Airports: Los Angeles International (61.9 million annual passengers) LA/Ontario International (7.0 million annual passengers)
Dallas
Name: Dallas Cowboys New Stadium Location: Arlington, TX Major Area Events: Capacity: 100,000 1994 FIFA World Cup Opening: 2009 2011 Super Bowl Hosting: Group, R. of 16, Semis Major Airports: Dallas-Fort Worth International (59.7 million annual passengers) Dallas Love Field (3.6 million annual passengers)
Phoenix
Name: University of Phoenix Stadium Location: Glendale, AZ Past Area Events: 2008 Super Bowl Capacity: 73,719 Opening: 2006 2009 NBA All-Star Game Hosting: Group, Quarters Major Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor International (41.4 million annual passengers)
Chicago
Name: Soldier Field Location: Chicago, IL Past Area Events: Capacity: 61,500 1994 FIFA World Cup Renovated: 2003 1996 Democratic Convention Hosting: Group, Quarters 1999 Women’s World Cup Major Airports: O’Hare International (77.0 million annual passengers) Chicago Midway International (19.3 million annual passengers)
Miami
Name: Dolphin Stadium Location: Miami Gardens, FL Past Area Events: 1996 Olympics Football Site Capacity: 75,000 Opening: 1987 2007 Super Bowl Hosting: Group, Quarters 2009 World Baseball Classic Major Airports: Miami International (33.7 million annual passengers) Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int’l (22.6 million annual passengers) Palm Beach International (6.9 million annual passengers)
Kansas City
Name: Arrowhead Stadium Location: Kansas City, MO Past Area Events: 2008 Big 12 Championship Capacity: 79,451 Renovation: 2011 2009 NCAA B-Ball Tournament Hosting: Group, R. of 16 Major Airport: Kansas City International (12.0 million annual passengers)
Boston
Name: Gillette Stadium Location: Foxborough, MA Past Area Events: 2002 MLS Cup Capacity: 68,756 Opening: 2002 2003 Women’s World Cup Hosting: Group, R. of 16 2008 NBA Finals Major Airports: Logan International (28.1 million passengers) Manchester-Boston Regional (3.9 million passengers)
Seattle
Name: Qwest Field Location: Seattle, WA Past Area Events: Capacity: 67,000 2001 MLB All-Star Game Opening: 2002 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup Hosting: Group, R. of 16 Major Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International (31.3 million annual passengers)
Atlanta
Name: New Falcons Stadium Location: Doraville, GA Past Area Events: 1996 Summer Olympic Games Capacity: 70,000 Opening: 2017 2000 Super Bowl Hosting: Group, R. of 16 2007 NCAA B-Ball Final Four Major Airport: Hartsfield-Jackson International (89.4 million annual passengers)
San Francisco
Name: New 49ers Stadium Location: Santa Clara, CA Past Area Events: 1994 FIFA World Cup Capacity: 68,000 Opening: 2013 1997 NHL All-Star Game Hosting: Group, R. of 16 2007 MLB All-Star Game Major Airports: San Francisco International (35.8 million annual passengers) Oakland International (11.5 million annual passengers) San Jose International (5.2 million annual passengers)