Dallas named potential host site for 2026 World Cup bid
Dallas is among the 32 cities in contention to be a potential host city for the 2026 World Cup.
The United States is part of a joint bid effort that also includes Canada and Mexico. The vast majority of the games and all of the key semifinals and finals would be hosted in the U.S.
Previous reporting has indicated both AT&T Stadium and the Cotton Bowl are options for organizers to consider. The Cotton Bowl hosted World Cup matches in 1994.
The North American bid committee said Wednesday it cut Cleveland, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, San Antonio, Birmingham, Alabama and Jacksonville, Florida. The Canadian cities of Ottawa and Regina, Saskatchawan, also were eliminated.
Thirty-two areas remain in contention, including 25 from the United States, four from Canada and three from Mexico.
The bid committee said it expects its proposal, which will be sent to FIFA in March, to include up to 25 cities. At least 12 cities would ultimately be selected if the FIFA Congress picks the joint bid when it votes in June 2018.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first with a 48-nation field. Morocco said it also intends to bid, but the North American joint bid is considered the favorite to land the tournament.
The 32 remaining areas under consideration are:
UNITED STATES
Atlanta; Baltimore; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cincinnati; Chicago; Dallas and Arlington, Texas; Denver; Detroit; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Glendale, Arizona; Houston; Kansas City, Missouri; Landover, Maryland; Las Vegas; Los Angeles and Inglewood and Pasadena, California; Miami; Minneapolis; Nashville, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Philadelphia; Salt Lake City; Santa Clara, California; Seattle; Tampa, Florida
CANADA
Edmonton, Alberta; Montreal; Toronto; Vancouver, British Columbia
MEXICO
Guadalajara; Mexico City; Monterrey
The Associated Press contributed to this report.