Orlando Sports Weekly Rundown with David Baumann: Orlando a 'Contender' to Host World Cup

Welcome to the Orlando Sports Weekly Rundown, I'm David Baumann.

The World Cup is officially coming to the U.S. in 2026.

Will Orlando play host like it did in 1994?

According to the Washington Post, Orlando is a "contender" among 17 U.S. cities, saying, "Camping World Stadium, formerly the Citrus Bowl, was a 1994 venue, but with Miami in the running, Central Florida’s best hopes might rest in geographic pairings."

The column argues that Miami may have an upper hand on Orlando because, "South Florida missed out in 1994, yielding to Orlando. It will probably be the other way around this time."

WaPo says the U.S. will end up featuring 10 or 11 host cities, and the "front-runners" to host are New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Dallas.

Along with Orlando and Miami, the other "contenders" to host are Atlanta, Washington D.C., Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Denver.

The "long shots" it lists are Baltimore, Nashville, Kansas City and Cincinnati.

Make no mistake though, Orlando WANTS to host the World Cup... and I think it could serve FIFA well to have BOTH Orlando and Miami in together as host cities.

For the passionate soccer fans in Florida, the geography would make it easy to see games in either location.

Here are the statements from the Orlando Host Committee, via a Central Florida Sports Commission press release:

Mayor Buddy Dyer - City of Orlando
 
"We're thrilled that the United Bid has been a success and are so excited about the possibility of Orlando serving as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Passion for the world's sport continues to grow in our community and Orlando is already playing a role in the future of soccer in North America. With our recently constructed Camping World Stadium, our first-class hospitality and commitment to diversity and inclusion, Orlando is the right city at the right time to share in hosting this special event."
 
Mayor Teresa Jacobs - Orange County
 
"It's incredibly exciting that FIFA has selected North America for 2026 FIFA World Cup Soccer! When we hosted World Cup in 1994 it was a huge success - no doubt the United States and our region will once again provide unforgettable experiences and venues for U.S. and international athletes and fans alike. From new jobs and economic impact to the thrill of seeing world-class athletes in action, 2026 FIFA World Cup Soccer will have an extremely positive impact, especially for our community, which has come to love soccer!"
 
Jason Siegel - CEO, Central Florida Sports Commission
 
"On behalf of our Chairman Dan Malasky and our Central Florida Sports Commission Board of Directors, Mayor Dyer and our partners at the City of Orlando, Mayor Jacobs and Orange County leadership, Alex Leitão and his team at Orlando City Soccer, and the more than 160 community leaders that make up our Local Organizing Committee, we are extremely honored that the United Bid has been chosen by the members of FIFA to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. We are thankful for the extraordinary work done by John Kristick and the bid committee, the three North American member associations and their leadership, and the 22 North American cities that joined Orlando and were part of the final bid book. Our team is looking forward to the opportunity for Orlando to play a major role in the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
 
"Hosting major events is in our DNA, and our community continues to set a new standard for the fan experience with every event we welcome to Central Florida.  Hosting is a common thread that connects our community: government officials, centers of transportation, visitors' bureaus and tourism, corporate partners, theme parks, world-class hotels, media outlets, marketing and event planners, a vast array of hospitality providers and an extensive network of volunteers - all collaborating as one to ensure a successful event.
 
"We believe that with the success of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Orlando, our status as the world's premier vacation destination welcoming over 72 million visitors in 2017, and all of the amenities our community has to offer, combined with the unprecedented enthusiasm of our soccer and sports community, that we are positioned to provide the most outstanding experience for our guests in 2026, making Orlando an ideal location to serve as a host city."
 
Alex Leitão - CEO, Orlando City Soccer
 
"We are extremely excited and honored that the United States will be one of the countries that will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is a moment that everyone involved in the sport in this country should be proud of as it is a result of everyone's hard work and commitment to grow the beautiful game not only in the United States but also in Canada and Mexico. Like it did in 1994, this World Cup will further allow us to celebrate the soccer culture in this country and inspire a new generation. We can't wait for the opportunity to continue showing Orlando's great passion for soccer in what will be the largest and most successful FIFA World Cup in history."