Washington prepares to make its pitch to host 2026 World Cup matches

With a global pandemic ongoing and sports facing unprecedented uncertainty, the 2026 World Cup seems like part of a distant future. FIFA has enough concerns about conducting qualifiers for the 2022 tournament, let alone the competition six years from now.

But with the largest World Cup in soccer’s history coming to North America in 2026, spanning three countries and involving 48 men’s teams, the exercise of selecting the estimated 16 venues is beginning to ramp up.

On Tuesday, DC2026, a group entrusted with securing matches for the Washington area, will announce a 40-member advisory board, chaired by local businessman Mark Ein, EventsDC chairman Max Brown and D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.