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Portland was not part of the bid because the city and metro area lack an appropriate stadium. Since Portland does not have an NFL team (or even a college football team), they lack a stadium that can seat over 50,000. I believe the Timbers' stadium seats around 22,000 - that's far too small. Vancouver and Chicago are both very surprising, but as mentioned they bowed out on their own. Columbus has a massive stadium at Ohio State, but I am not sure if it can be configured for a soccer field. The stadium also seats over 100,000 - which would make it the largest of the bid, maybe the committee felt they could not sell 100,000 tickets in Columbus or that they did not want such a large stadium in a very secondary city overshadowing the other stadiums.
With Seattle being a very probable host city I don't find it surprising that Vancouver is not bidding, Seattle is right in between Vancouver and Portland so logistically it makes most sense for Seattle to host for the PNW market.
Not necessarily, the Rose Bowl is the only venue left for LA in the 2026 World Cup application bid and it's almost guaranteed they will be chosen as one of the 10 US cities to host matches and I don't see them replacing all those bleachers with individual seats before 2026. Maybe the Rose Bowl gets a pass from FIFA due to its history?
It's a moot point about Ohio Stadium, since Columbus didn't even apply to try and be a potential host in the 2026 World Cup application bid.
A large chunk of the Rose Bowl along the sidelines is bucket seating with bleachers on each end. Many NFL stadiums (including some that are in the running to host in 2026) also have a combination of bucket and bleacher seating.
In contrast, Ohio State is almost entirely bleacher seating. It's a nice venue and within a short drive for a huge portion of the United States population, but unfortunately I think it was ineligible based on multiple criteria. Columbus has no other venue even worth considering for such a large-scale event which is why the city never puts in bids for these matches.
With Seattle being a very probable host city I don't find it surprising that Vancouver is not bidding, Seattle is right in between Vancouver and Portland so logistically it makes most sense for Seattle to host for the PNW market.
My impression is that cities put in bids individually. Edmonton is the only city in western Canada that put in bid and I think that they'll get to host some matches. However they don't have the nicest stadium and obviously no MLS team. I have to believe that if Vancouver put in a bid they would have gotten the nod even if Seattle were also considered.
Many NFL stadiums (including some that are in the running to host in 2026) also have a combination of bucket and bleacher seating.
What's your definition of many?
The NFL stadiums that I can think of with "bleachers as seats" would be Lambeau, New Era in Buffalo, and the Hawk's Nest section (not very large) of CenturyLink. I guess you might throw in the LA Coliseum in there if they have any.
Out of the 17 US stadiums left, vying for the 10 spots in the 2026 World Cup, I only see the Rose Bowl (non-NFL), Camping World (non-NFL) and CenturyLink (NFL) that have bleachers.
More than 0 but less than 33. FirstEnergy also has some bleacher seating. It's hosted USMNT and USWNT friendlies as well as Gold Cup matches. I think Heinz Field has some as well.
I admit I have not read the rules, but please tell me that we will still be able to relive the final day parallel group matches like we had this week in the 48 team format also before we get to the elimination matches. This provides some good entertainment at the middle of the tournament. I know, some groups are already decided, so that does not matter.
BTW - 32% of us voted Germany will win it all - Its a poll on this forum.... *** ear to ear grin ***
The 48 team WC is garbage and will weaken it. The multi nations hosting it is terrible too. Ireland and UK are apparently considering a joint bid, thats a 4 team auto qualified, 5 if Norn Iron are included.
Guys I'm confused. Are we really bidding jointly? That would be fun.
Just look at all those cities whose inhabitants will be inconvenienced and looted so some dudes can kick a ball around a field. So much to be grateful for!
Hah. Just wait for some soccer thugs to encounter the reality of American law enforcement.
Thats a bit dramatic, WC94 passed by with no real incidents.
If you consider the murder of Columbia’s Escobar (for deflecting a ball into his own goal in a match against the US) as ‘no real incidents’. It occurred in the middle of the WC (after he had returned home), and they made the announcement at RFK Stadium prior to the Spain-Switzerland match.
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FirstEnergy also has some bleacher seating. It's hosted USMNT and USWNT friendlies as well as Gold Cup matches. I think Heinz Field has some as well.
