ORLANDO, Fla. — Update:
Sports fans in Central Florida are feeling left out.
Orlando was left off the list of cities that will host FIFA World Cup in 2026, officials announced Thursday afternoon.
The chosen cities are: Miami, New York, Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Monterrey, Mexico City, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Guadalajara.
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Twenty-two cities vied for the right to host matches for the tournament that is being hosted by three nations — which is a first for a FIFA World Cup.
Orlando joins Cincinnati, Denver, Nashville, Pasadena, California, Washington, D.C. and Edmonton as cities passed over.
Read our previous version below:
Thursday could be a big day for soccer fans in Central Florida.
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FIFA will announce the cities that will set the stage for the 2026 World Cup.
Twenty-two cities are vying for the right to host matches for the tournament that is hosted by three nations — which is a first for a FIFA World Cup.
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The candidate host cities include Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Edmonton, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington, D.C./Baltimore.
“The host cities will be absolutely key to ensuring the successful delivery of the competition. We look forward to working with them to deliver what will undoubtedly be the largest FIFA World Cup in history,” said Colin Smith, FIFA’s chief tournaments and events officer.
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Ten cities will be chosen as venues for the tournament.
If Orlando is selected, the matches would be played at Camping World Stadium.
Just two of the contending stadiums hosted games in 1994, the Rose Bowl Stadium and Orlando.
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Check back and watch Eyewitness News for updates on the announcement.
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