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By Katishi Maake – Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal Jun 30, 2020 Updated Jul 1, 2020, 3:29pm EDT The District has announced its official bid to be a host city for 2026 FIFA World Cup, assembling an advisory board to spearhead an effort to bring the world's biggest sporting event to FedEx Field. The newly formed DC2026 Advisory Board consists of members of the local business community, including Greg O'Dell, president and CEO of Events D.C., Max Brown, chairman of Events D.C., Gina Adams, senior vice president of FedEx Corp., Nicole Quiroga, president and CEO of Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, D.C. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio, chef and restaurateur José Andrés and investor and entrepreneur Mark Ein. D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid and former United star defender Eddie Pope are also board members, along with D.C. United CEO and General Managing Partner Jason Levien, former U.S. women's national team goalkeeper Briana Scurry, former Washington Spirit midfielder Joanna Lohman and current Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan. In 2018, FIFA selected a joint bid from Canada, the United States and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup, and 23 cities between the three countries are in the running. Of those, 16 will have some part in hosting matches. The bid calls for 10 host cities in the U.S. and three apiece in Canada and Mexico. After a series of visits to cities in late 2020 and early 2021, FIFA — soccer's governing body — is expected to make its selections. The D.C. advisory board has been meeting virtually for several months. "We're probably one of the only cities in the country that as a routine matter hosts hundred-of-thousand-people rallies, half-a-million-people marches and inaugurations," said Brown. "It's what we do in Washington, D.C., and it's what we do well." This will be the first time the U.S. hosts World Cup matches since 1994, after losing bids that included D.C. for the 2014 and 2022 World Cups. D.C. also lost out on bids for the 2024 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Gay Games. If selected as a host city, the World Cup is estimated to generate $500 million in local economic activity and create 3,500 jobs for residents. While Brown declined to put a dollar amount on how much money would be needed for the bid effort, he said the capital would come from a combination of Events D.C.'s budget and private investments. The matches would be slated to be played at FedEx Field, which has a capacity of 70,659. Brown didn't say whether the board is seeking to host the final or a semifinal match, but the former typically requires a venue that can seat more than 80,000. He did say the group is working with Washington's NFL team to make modifications and expand seating at FedEx. The FIFA FanFest would take place on the National Mall if the District is selected, Brown said. The advisory board is touting the region's existing infrastructure to handle the event and ties to soccer, which includes hosting 1994 FIFA World Cup matches, matches for the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 and 2003 FIFA's Women's World Cups. The 2026 World Cup will be the first to expand from 32 teams to 48 teams. "We've been a soccer city for years," Brown said. "All we're doing now is layering on top of our soccer prowess and excitement our transportation, infrastructure, mobility infrastructure, our hospitality infrastructure and the people who live here and engaging with our residents."
By Katishi Maake – Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal
Jun 30, 2020 Updated Jul 1, 2020, 3:29pm EDT
The District has announced its official bid to be a host city for 2026 FIFA World Cup, assembling an advisory board to spearhead an effort to bring the world's biggest sporting event to FedEx Field.
The newly formed DC2026 Advisory Board consists of members of the local business community, including Greg O'Dell, president and CEO of Events D.C., Max Brown, chairman of Events D.C., Gina Adams, senior vice president of FedEx Corp., Nicole Quiroga, president and CEO of Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, D.C. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio, chef and restaurateur José Andrés and investor and entrepreneur Mark Ein.
D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid and former United star defender Eddie Pope are also board members, along with D.C. United CEO and General Managing Partner Jason Levien, former U.S. women's national team goalkeeper Briana Scurry, former Washington Spirit midfielder Joanna Lohman and current Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan.
In 2018, FIFA selected a joint bid from Canada, the United States and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup, and 23 cities between the three countries are in the running. Of those, 16 will have some part in hosting matches. The bid calls for 10 host cities in the U.S. and three apiece in Canada and Mexico.
After a series of visits to cities in late 2020 and early 2021, FIFA — soccer's governing body — is expected to make its selections. The D.C. advisory board has been meeting virtually for several months.
"We're probably one of the only cities in the country that as a routine matter hosts hundred-of-thousand-people rallies, half-a-million-people marches and inaugurations," said Brown. "It's what we do in Washington, D.C., and it's what we do well."
This will be the first time the U.S. hosts World Cup matches since 1994, after losing bids that included D.C. for the 2014 and 2022 World Cups. D.C. also lost out on bids for the 2024 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Gay Games.
If selected as a host city, the World Cup is estimated to generate $500 million in local economic activity and create 3,500 jobs for residents. While Brown declined to put a dollar amount on how much money would be needed for the bid effort, he said the capital would come from a combination of Events D.C.'s budget and private investments.
The matches would be slated to be played at FedEx Field, which has a capacity of 70,659. Brown didn't say whether the board is seeking to host the final or a semifinal match, but the former typically requires a venue that can seat more than 80,000. He did say the group is working with Washington's NFL team to make modifications and expand seating at FedEx. The FIFA FanFest would take place on the National Mall if the District is selected, Brown said.
The advisory board is touting the region's existing infrastructure to handle the event and ties to soccer, which includes hosting 1994 FIFA World Cup matches, matches for the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 and 2003 FIFA's Women's World Cups. The 2026 World Cup will be the first to expand from 32 teams to 48 teams.
"We've been a soccer city for years," Brown said. "All we're doing now is layering on top of our soccer prowess and excitement our transportation, infrastructure, mobility infrastructure, our hospitality infrastructure and the people who live here and engaging with our residents."