MIAMI BEACH, FL – FIFA World Cup 2026 organizers are feeling the pressure to deliver on one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

The World Cup – co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico – begins June 11 in Mexico City, while MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will host the final on July 19, 2026.

“I’m really confident about being able to put on what might be the greatest World Cup that people have ever seen,” New York/New Jersey host committee CEO Alex Lasry said during a panel at the Soccerex Miami Forum on Nov. 12.

“The final is going to be the biggest event in human history, and that’s not really an exaggeration. If you think about the viewership for the last World Cup final, it was the same amount of people that watched the last 13 Super Bowls combined.

“This isn’t going to just be the United States caring about the World Cup final, the entire world is going to be watching and participating,” Lasry added.

Meg Kane, host city executive/CEO for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, joked the city would love to host a match between the U.S. and England “1776 style.”

Philadelphia will host six World Cup games, including a match on July 4 with a 250th anniversary celebration also planned. The city will also host the MLB All-Star Game next summer.

Kane notes the collaboration between the U.S. host cities have been a positive experience, with hopes fans will travel to several World Cup sites while visiting the country.

“We're able to use each other as resources for ideas, resources for issues or challenges that we may be facing, and really help to think through how we can create the best and most seamless experience for fans that are coming to each of our cities,” Kane told USA TODAY Sports. “We want them to go everywhere.”

Miami will host seven matches, with chief marketing and community officer Janelle Prieto adding the city could become a hub for fans to start their World Cup journeys to other locations.

“We’re creating a platform for everybody to really enjoy this experience, create memories with their families and be part of something that people are going to carry with them for the rest of their lives,” Prieto said.

Alan Rothenberg remembers there were no English language telecasts of the World Cup games in the country before he was chairman and CEO of the 1994 tournament in the U.S.

Now, the sport has gone from “zero to overload” with variety from MLS and NWSL games, joining international matches from leagues all over the world broadcast in the country.

“That’s sort of a tangible way to show how far we’ve come,” Rothenberg said.

Of the 2026 World Cup, Rothenberg said: “It’s obviously going to be a shot in the arm. There’s going to be more fans, better TV ratings. … It’s going to be more of an inspiration for young people.”

Added Lasry: “My hope for this World Cup is that 8, 9, 10-year-olds see the magic of [Lionel] Messi, [Kylian] Mbappé, [Mo] Salah, and say, ‘You know what? I want to do that. ... I want to be on the pitch and help lead the U.S. men's national team to its first World Cup title.'"

While President Donald Trump threatened to move World Cup games from U.S. cities he deems unsafe, it remains unclear if or when any match would be moved.

“Our job is to be prepared to welcome any and all fans who come to our cities and to provide them with the best possible experience. We can only control what we can control,” Meg Kane, Host City Executive/CEO for Philadelphia Soccer 2026 told USA TODAY Sports.

“All of us agree with the President that safety and security is a priority for every host city and has been since we've made the decision to bid, and we are all committed to that end. We're working closely with the White House Task Force and Executive Director Andrew Giuliani to make sure that we're fulfilling all the things that we need to make the United States shine.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 FIFA World Cup organizers feel the pressure to deliver epic event in USA

Reporting by Safid Deen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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