State kicks in $5 million for Miami’s World Cup host bid

Florida’s business-recruitment agency last week put $10 million into the pitch to help Miami and Orlando become host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament.

Enterprise Florida directors agreed to provide $5 million for each city’s efforts, which are being led by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission.

“We talk about the impact that having two Super Bowls in two years had on the Florida economy, and this would be the equivalent of having like two Super Bowls in one month, one week, but times like an exponential number,” said Holly Borgmann, vice chairwoman of the Enterprise Florida board.

“I don’t know the numbers, but this would be a huge way to celebrate our cities and our state on a global scale. It would bring a ton of tourism to the area. And it demonstrates to FIFA the state’s commitment to fund this important tournament.”

The state money wouldn’t be released until contracts are signed for either potential venue – Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens or Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

The 2026 games will be hosted jointly by the US, Canada and Mexico. The US is expected to get the bulk of the games, including the quarterfinals, semi-finals and final.

Canada and Mexico have been expected to each host 10 matches. However, Montreal has withdrawn, leaving Canada with only Edmonton and Toronto bidding for the games.

Before Montreal’s withdrawal, US cities were expected to host 60 cup matches, with city selections slated to be made early in the second quarter of 2022. The 2026 Cup will see the field of teams expanded from 32 to 48.

Jose Sotolongo, director of sports and entertainment at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, said in April that bringing in and coordinating the massive event will be a community effort, with communitywide benefits for local businesses.

Which games each city hosts, he said, is ultimately up to FIFA, but if Miami-Dade is chosen there will be festivities all month no matter what, as soccer fans pour in from around the world to be part of the event.

If Miami-Dade secures a part of the cup, he said, it will in the span of a month be the single largest and highest-grossing event ever held in the county. Behind the Olympics, he said, it’s the largest sporting event in the world.

But unlike the Olympics, which sometimes leaves countries with expensive infrastructure and facilities that cost more to build and maintain over time than the games bring in, Mr. Sotolongo said Miami could host the World Cup tomorrow if it had to. The infrastructure, airport, hotels and stadium, he said, are already here – and so are the fans.

In 2017, he said, Miami-Dade hosted El Classico, a yearly rivalry match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, which generated $15 million in ticket sales and became the highest-grossing soccer game in US history.

Hard Rock Stadium, he said, might not have the 80,000 seats that FIFA wants the host of the final game to have. But, he continued, the “VIP and Ultra VIP” nature of Hard Rock’s 68,000 seats could allow FIFA to net more money from ticket sales regardless.

Miami, Mr. Sotolongo said, is the number one city for World Cup viewership in Spanish and number two in English.

“We’re very confident that we will get the games,” Mr. Sotolongo said. “However, we’re not assured of anything. We have to compete and not take anything for granted.”

Orlando hosted five games in the 1994 tournament, when the US was the sole host country.

Other US cities or regions seeking to host games include Boston, Nashville, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Baltimore, New York and New Jersey, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles.