Por qué Phoenix no alberga partidos del Mundial de la FIFA 2026

Phoenix won’t host matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite being among the cities that were once considered for the event. The city’s leaders withdrew after concluding that FIFA’s financial demands would outweigh projected economic benefits for the Valley. Tom Sadler, president and CEO of the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority (AZSTA), said local officials, tourism stakeholders, and AZSTA representatives evaluated a potential bid, including attending a conference for candidate cities and completing multiple steps in FIFA’s official process. Business sports consultant Rob Yowell, who has worked in the industry for more than three decades and advised Phoenix, said FIFA required host cities to absorb costs such as infrastructure upgrades, security, FIFA official lodging, and creating a “clean stadium.” AZSTA indicated the decision was made in 2017.