FIFA announces 16 North American cities to host the 2026 World Cup

At a watch party in Washington D.C., the crowd was sullen when the last of the cities was announced. It was just the third time that a nation's capital has not been included as a World Cup host city. A similar scene played out in Denver.

Six cities that vied for games were disappointed in the end: In addition to Denver and Washington D.C., there was Edmonton, Alberta; Cincinnati; Nashville, Tennessee; and Orlando, Florida. 

“We're disappointed. Anybody that knows me, I'm a pretty competitive SOB. I don't like losing,” said Butch Spyridon, CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper thanked the host committee that included the Tennessee Titans’ president and CEO and both the owner and CEO of Nashville’s MLS team. Nashville's bid was centered around Nissan Stadium, home of the Titans. 

“Not the news we wanted but on to the next thing,” Cooper said. “And it was quite an elite group of cities that they were picking from."

Kansas City was one of those cities that wasn't a sure thing but prevailed in the end.

Despite sweltering temperatures, hundreds of people gathered at Kansas City’s Power & Light entertainment district erupted in cheers when Kansas City was announced as a host. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, whose family has been strong soccer supporters since the beginning of Major League Soccer, said the announcement was the culmination of years of work by many people. 

“Now we have an opportunity to showcase Kansas City on the international stage,” Hunt said. 

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is part owner of Sporting KC and his wife, Brittany, is one of three founders of the Kansas City Current in the National Women’s Soccer League.

“I want to be at every one of those games. I know Kansas