Washington, DC — Congressional Soccer Caucus co-chairs, including U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14), introduced a resolution this week to express support for North America’s united bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This united bid seeks to host the games across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

“As the co-chairs of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, we have each seen how the sport of soccer not only celebrates the values of teamwork and camaraderie, but can also bridge cultural differences and foster goodwill by bringing teams and fans together across the globe,” said the co-chairs. “That is why we are proud to introduce H.Con.Res. 111, which voices the House of Representatives’ strong support for the united bid of North America to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hosting the games would draw millions of fans, bringing major economic benefits to the United States and shine a light on soccer’s growing popularity in North America. The 2026 FIFA World Cup would help us and our friends in Canada and Mexico capitalize on this momentum, and it is our hope that the selection committee will recognize the value North America presents and award the united bid.”

Soccer remains one of the most popular sports in the world and in the United States, where there are an estimated 25 million players nationwide. The FIFA World Cup is an international soccer competition featuring the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) men’s national teams. The United States previously hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1994, and is still considered a success and a catalyst for increased interest in the sport across North America. Its record-setting attendance of over 3.5 million has remained unmatched to this day.

The Congressional Soccer Caucus is an organization that includes members of Congress and their staff to promote, educate, and raise awareness on issues, both domestic and international, pertaining to the sport. The Caucus works predominantly with the US Soccer Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to bring soccer to children across the country. U.S. Rep. Castor currently serves as co-chair and head coach in the Congressional Soccer Match.   In the past, Rep. Castor has served as an advocate for gender equity in sports and education. Her congressional district was proud to host the U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team’s inaugural SheBelieves Cup. In addition, U.S. Rep. Castor has urged the U.S. Soccer Federation to play a leadership role in encouraging gender equity reforms in FIFA in order to provide equal opportunities for women and girls across the globe in the world’s most popular sport.

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