The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has announced plans to distribute 100,000 footballs to 500 cities across the United States as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.FIFA President Gianni Infantino made the announcement while addressing delegates at the United States Conference of Mayors’ Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.Each City to Receive 200 FootballsAccording to FIFA, each of the 500 member cities will receive 200 footballs, which will be used for community events, youth programmes, and football celebrations ahead of the tournament.The 2026 World Cup will kick off on June 11, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.Largest World Cup in HistoryThe 2026 edition will be the biggest in FIFA history, featuring:48 national teams104 matches16 host cities across three countriesThe tournament is expected to attract millions of fans from around the world.Infantino described the event as a celebration of unity and football spirit.“The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be a celebration of humanity, bringing people together in joy and football spirit,” he said.US Cities to Benefit EconomicallyInfantino revealed that American cities are expected to enjoy an estimated $30 billion economic boost, driven by tourism, hospitality, and related activities.More than seven million fans are projected to attend matches and fan events across the host cities.Support from US MayorsDuring the meeting, Infantino met with mayors of the 11 US host cities, praising their commitment to hosting the global event.US Conference of Mayors President, Mayor David Holt, welcomed the initiative, describing the ball donation as a major highlight of the meeting.“His generous announcement of 200 soccer balls to every member city was a highlight of the week,” Holt said.Team Base Camps Across the USBeyond match venues, several US cities will serve as training and accommodation centres for participating teams.Out of the 64 proposed team base camps, 50 are located in the United States, further strengthening local involvement in the tournament.
