FIFA President, Infantino Unveils Grassroots Plan To Boost World Cup Excitement
FIFA to Distribute 100,000 Footballs as Part of World Cup Preparations
FIFA has announced its plan to distribute 100,000 footballs to 500 cities across the United States. This initiative is aimed at generating excitement in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the United States Conference of Mayors’ Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.
According to FIFA’s official website, each participating city will receive 200 footballs ahead of the tournament. This distribution aligns with preparations for the World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 8, 2026, and will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The balls are intended for use in community events as the nations prepare for what is expected to be one of the largest sporting events in history.
The tournament will feature 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 host cities across the three countries. Infantino characterized the event as a “global festival” that will bring people together through football and shared experiences.
“I was delighted to meet the mayors of the 11 U.S. Host Cities who will welcome the world in 2026, each bringing their own unique energy to this historic event,” Infantino stated.
During the Winter Meeting, Infantino engaged with the mayors from the designated host cities. This upcoming World Cup will be notable as the first edition to include 48 teams, expanding the tournament’s scope and scale.
In addition to the host cities, several other locations are being considered as base camps for participating teams. Out of 64 proposed sites currently under review, 50 are in the United States.
Infantino informed the city delegates that the tournament is expected to generate approximately $30 billion in economic benefits as over seven million fans are anticipated to travel to attend.
Mayor David Holt, President of the United States Conference of Mayors, hailed FIFA’s donation as a significant highlight of the meeting. In a social media post, he expressed gratitude, saying, “We were thrilled to welcome FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the FIFA World Cup trophy to our winter meeting. His generous announcement of a donation of 200 soccer balls to every member city was a highlight of the week.”
