LAFC enter fray to keep Los Angeles in 2026 World Cup bid

Changes have occurred within North America’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup – including the addition of Los Angeles as a potential host city, after it appeared the second-largest city in the United States may opt to sit out altogether.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a measure allowing Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee, LLC to represent several Southern California cities in seeking out the international tournament.

The committee includes Los Angeles Football Club and plans to bid for hosting rights for the cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood and Pasadena, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The city council had initially turned back the proposal because it required the City of Los Angeles to pay for all services including police, regardless of where the games were played.

Tuesday also included a change in the North America bidding committee structure. The committee now has three co-chairs, one each from the United States, Canada and Mexico – current USSF president Carlos Cordeiro, Mexican Football Federation president Decio de Maria and Canadian Soccer Association president Steven Reed. They replace former U.S. Soccer boss Sunil Gulati. Gulati will stay on the committee’s board, according to Sports Illustrated.

The move was done on the same day the official written bid was closed. Morocco is the only other candidate competing to host the expanded 48-team tournament. The host vote is expected to be on June 13. The host will be selected by FIFA’s entire membership for the first time since 1966 when the governing body used its executive committee to decide.

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