SoCal Chosen To Host 2026 FIFA World Cup

LOS ANGELES, CA — It looks like the Super Bowl was just the tip of the iceberg for L.A.'s new SoFi Stadium.

Los Angeles is one of 16 cities in three countries to host the 2026 World Cup, according to an announcement Thursday by FIFA, the international soccer governing body.

Ten other American cities will also host matches; they include Atlanta; Boston; Dallas; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Houston; Kansas City, Missouri; Miami; Philadelphia; San Francisco; and Seattle.

The cities, which will be split into three regional groups, were partially chosen to minimize fans' travel, the Los Angeles Times reported. The location of the World Cup final has not been announced yet.

The 16 host cities were chosen after a comprehensive bidding process between 22 cities, according to FIFA. Baltimore; Cincinnati; Denver; Nashville, Tennessee; and Orlando, Florida all made bids but were not chosen.

"We are extremely grateful not only to the 16 cities that have been selected, but also to the other six — with whom we look forward to continuing to engage and explore additional opportunities to welcome fans and participating teams. This has always been a FIFA World Cup of three countries, and that undoubtedly will have a tremendous impact on the whole region and the wider football community,” FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani said in a news release.

The bid plan envisioned 60 games in the U.S., including all from the quarterfinals on, and 10 each in Mexico and Canada.

"Today is a historic day — for everyone in those cities and states, for FIFA, for Canada, the USA and Mexico who will put on the greatest show on Earth," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a news release.

The U.S. selections included none of the nine stadiums used at the 1994 World Cup. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and Orlando’s Camping World Stadium were the only ones remaining in contention, and they were among the sites dropped in the final round.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.