US host cities gear up to welcome millions for FIFA World Cup 2026

Doha, Qatar: As many as 10 million visitors will head to 11 U.S. cities this summer, helping turn the FIFA World Cup 2026 into the largest sporting event in history. milkshakeslot.online

While U.S. host cities like Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco are world-famous, lesser-known U.S. cities are primed to host football fans. In Kansas City, Missouri, for instance, Café Corazón owner Dulcinea Herrera says that people underestimate the Midwestern city of 500,000 (in a larger metro area of 2 million). Herrera and other local business owners are preparing for 650,000 visitors for FIFA World Cup 2026.

In addition to coffee, an American staple, Café Corazón serves yerba mate, a tea popular with South American football stars, including Lionel Messi, who will lead Argentina in an early round match scheduled for Kansas City. One of Herrera’s three locations is in the downtown area where officials plan a massive viewing party near the stadium.

White House World Cup Task Force Executive Director Andrew Giuliani calls it “a tremendous privilege” to host the FIFA World Cup 2026 during the year the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, and says the federal government is working with host cities to ensure a safe and welcoming tournament.

“Hosting the world during this historic year … gives us a chance to show the very best of America — our hospitality and our innovation — while also showcasing the America spirit of which we’re so proud of,” Giuliani said.

Here is an introduction to few of the U.S. cities that will host international football fans:

Atlanta

Famous for peaches, pecans and Southern hospitality, the Georgia state capital is a cultural and economic hub of the South. It boasts the country’s busiest airport and was home to famed Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Atlanta is home to numerous industries, including aerospace and financial technologies, as well as soft drink giant Coca-Cola. The city has several professional sports teams and has hosted three Super Bowls, as well as the 1996 summer Olympics.

Kansas City

The Midwestern city called Kansas City straddles parts of two U.S. states — Kansas and Missouri — and is known as the “City of Fountains,” as it has more in use than any other U.S. city. Its famed Power & Light District boasts eight blocks of restaurants where visitors can sample the region’s famous barbecue.

Kansas City’s strong sports culture includes the National Football League’s Chiefs — winners of two of the last three Super Bowls. And the Kansas City Current is the world’s only women’s professional football team that plays in a stadium designed especially for women’s football. The team draws sellout crowds.

New York/New Jersey

New York — famous for skyscrapers, Broadway theater and the lights of Times Square — will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 finals at a stadium in neighboring New Jersey. In addition to bustling sidewalks along rows of restaurants serving every imaginable type of international cuisine, New York offers museums, libraries, walks in Central Park and the iconic Statue of Liberty, a testament to America’s friendship with France.

San Francisco Bay Area

Known for the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is a city of steep hills, scaled by streetcars and packed with colorful row houses. It’s the northern hub of California’s Silicon Valley, a center of technological innovation. Between matches, fans can visit nearby Napa Valley wineries or check out the stunning vistas of Yosemite National Park.

After hosting American football’s 2026 Super Bowl in February, San Francisco will be ready to host six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. Qatar will play their inaugural match at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, and their base training center is located in Santa Barbara.

Seattle

Known for a drizzly climate, a pedestrian-friendly downtown and a thriving entrepreneurial spirit, Seattle will offer international visitors the chance to sample seafood at Pike’s Place Market and take in a view of the entire city from the Space Needle. Seattle’s pioneering companies include airplane manufacturer Boeing, software developer Microsoft, and Starbucks, which operates in 85 countries.

The city, where the U.S. National Team will make an early-round appearance, plans nine “fan zones” for the FIFA World Cup 2026, each offering big screens, food and live entertainment. Qatar will play their final group stage match at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Paris: Spanish international Ferran Torres, who scored the only goal in last month's World Cup final, signed for two-time Champions League winners Paris Saint Germain from Barcelona on Saturday.

The 26-year-old striker cost the Ligue 1 champions a reported 50 million euros ($58 million).

"Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce it has secured the services of Ferran Torres. The Spanish World Cup-winning forward has signed with the Club until 2031," read the club statement.

Copenhagen: Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen is "doing well" after being admitted to hospital due to collapsing during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine, five years after suffering a cardiac arrest during the European Championships.

The 34-year-old former Manchester United midfielder, who had a type of pacemaker inserted after he collapsed in 2021, fell to the ground in the 64th minute of the match in Odense on Sunday.

Medical staff rushed onto the pitch while players from both teams gathered around him to shield the scene from television or smartphone cameras.

The referee called off the match and Eriksen was subsequently taken to hospital, having been shielded by both sets of players as he walked off the pitch.

"I want to let everyone know that I am doing well and that I am home with my family," Eriksen said in a social media post.

He said that receiving a shock from his ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) had had a "major impact" on him.

"I want to reassure everyone that this was (a) different situation from what happened in 2021," he said, adding that the device had done exactly what is was designed to do.

Eriksen said his "recovery has already started".

"For now, my focus is on recovering, spending time with my family, going on vacation, and playing football with my children," the footballer said.

Denmark's team doctor Morten Boesen said earlier on Monday that Eriksen had been "briefly unconscious" but that "the pacemaker responded as it should".

"I spoke to Christian this morning, and he is doing well," he said in comments posted on Instagram.

Boesen said that he and his medical team were in touch with the Danish national side's players.

"We are taking good care of the players and staff and are in regular contact with them."

Eriksen has worn the pacemaker since he collapsed during the group stage game against Finland at Euro 2020, which was played in 2021.

That led to him spending more than six months away from football.

Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg praised the swift help his team-mate received.

"There was a throw-in and I walked calmly to the touchline. Then I turned around and I saw Christian collapse," he told Danish television station TV2 on Sunday.
"We know very well what that means and the reaction was extremely rapid and respectful."

Denmark coach Brian Riemer, who worked with Eriksen at Premier League side Brentford, said it had been "an extremely shocking experience for everyone, the staff, the players and the opponents".

He said: "He's someone who counts a lot for me. You're closer to certain players than others and he was one of the ones I got close to at Brentford."

الأخباررابطة العالم الإسلامي تدين الاعتداءات على السعوديةأدانت رابطة العالم الإسلامي باستنكار شديد مواصلة جماعة الحوثي عدوانها الآثم على المملكة العربية السعودية، واستهداف مدن خميس مشيط وأبها والطائف بعدد من الصواريخ الباليستية والطائ...فتح →

Eriksen resumed his career at Brentford seven months after his collapse, having been forced to leave Inter Milan because of Italy's rules against playing with a pacemaker.

He went on to join Manchester United, where he won the FA Cup and League Cup, and now plays for Wolfsburg in Germany, where he has another year to run on his contract.

He also returned to international football, playing for Denmark at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Euro 2024 in Germany.

Denmark have not qualified for the World Cup in North America, which starts on Thursday.

Former Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner said the latest incident had been "really awful" but was relieved that Eriksen quickly regained consciousness.

"The main thing is that he was able to walk off by himself because that makes you think he's doing OK given the circumstances," Bendtner told TV2 on Sunday.
"But these are terrible images that outweigh the rest of the evening.

"It's the second time it's happened and as a friend of Christian's, it's really awful."

أعلن الاتحاد الآسيوي لكرة اليد عن نتائج القرعة الجديدة لجدول مباريات البطولة الآسيوية 11 لمنتخبات الناشئين تحت 19 سنة، والمؤهلة إلى بطولة العالم، التي تستضيفها العاصمة الأردنية عمّان خلال الفترة من 20 إلى 31 أغسطس 2026. وقد جاءت إعادة سحب القرعة وإصدار الجدول المعدل إثر التغييرات الكبيرة التي طرأت على قائمة المنتخبات المشاركة، وفي مقدمتها انسحاب بعض المنتخبات، مما استدعى إعادة توزيع الفرق على مجموعتين لتحديد مسار المنافسة القارية.
وقد أسفرت القرعة المعدلة عن وقوع منتخبنا الوطني للناشئين (عنابي اليد) في المجموعة الثانية القوية والحديدية، والتي تضم إلى جانبه منتخبات قوية وهي: الكويت، السعودية، إيران، وسوريا؛ في حين ضمت المجموعة الأولى منتخبات: كوريا، البحرين، الأردن، الهند، وأوزبكستان.
وفي ذات السياق، كشف الجدول الرسمي الجديد لمباريات الدور التمهيدي عن مواجهات حاسمة وقوية لعنابي الناشئين، حيث يستهل مشواره القاري بمواجهة المنتخب السعودي يوم الخميس 20 أغسطس ، يلي ذلك لقاء الكويت يوم الجمعة 21 أغسطس ، ثم مواجهة المنتخب الإيراني يوم الأحد 23 أغسطس ، ليختتم مبارياته في دور المجموعات بلقاء المنتخب السوري يوم الإثنين 24 أغسطس . ويدخل العنابي هذه التحديات المجدولة بطموحات واسعة وآمال عريضة للظهور بمستوى مشرف.

Madrid: Atletico Madrid signed 2022 World Cup winning centre-back Cristian Romero from Tottenham on Saturday for a fee reported to be 40 million euros ($46 million) including add-ons.

"(Romero) signs for our club until June 30, 2031," said Atletico in a statement.

The Argentina international -- who was also a member of the robust Argentina side that lost in last month's World Cup final to Spain -- is Atletico's fourth signing this summer after Alejandro Grimaldo, Kang-in Lee and Morten Hjulmand.

The 28-year-old said goodbye to Spurs fans on Friday after five years in north London.

He was named man of the match when the club ended a 17-year trophy drought beating Manchester United to win the 2025 Europa League.

Romero, who incurred several suspensions during his 156 appearances for Spurs, acknowledged "the journey wasn't perfect" in his leaving message, but said he was departing with a "heart full of memories" and "enormous pride".

Romero arrives days after compatriot and fellow World Cup winning defender Nahuel Molina left Atletico for Serie A side AS Roma, for a fee reported to be 17 million euros.