JT Batson: FIFA 2026 World Cup in the United States Will Be Like ‘Multiple Super Bowls Every Day’
CEO and Secretary General of U.S. Soccer JT Batson was a guest on the Building Bridges podcast hosted by Michael Hershman
American sports fans know the showmanship and excitement Super Bowl Sunday brings. Considered a de facto national holiday, the event sets up a flourish of fanfare and high stakes competition– weeks-long anticipation, sunrise tailgaters in front of the stadium, at-home gatherings around the television, music thumping, flags waving, fans cheering, fit athletes on the largest stage, must-watch halftime entertainment, bragging rights, trophies, confetti, celebrations that go well into the night, parades that take place in the heart of the winning city. Needless to say, if you like American football, the Super Bowl is the apex – and you never want to miss a moment.
Now, imagine that excitement, that anticipation, that joy, those festivities every single day in the span of just over a month.
CEO and Secretary General of U.S. Soccer JT Batson said that’s what Americans can expect next summer when the FIFA World Cup arrives in the United States. The U.S. Soccer executive was a featured guest on the latest episode of Building Bridges, a video podcast hosted by Michael Hershman.
“The scale, the fans, the atmosphere is going to be incredible,” he said. “And it’s not just about the games. It’s also about the parties and the fan fest outside of the games. We’re going to have a little bit longer than a month of essentially multiple Super Bowls every day, all across the United States, Canada and Mexico.”
While North American countries Mexico and Canada serve alongside the U.S. as co-hosts, about 75-85 percent of the matches will be played on American soil, including all matches in the latter stages:
Quarterfinals: Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, Boston
Semifinals: Atlanta, Dallas
Final: New York/New Jersey
For Batson, an Atlanta native who grew up playing, coaching and refereeing soccer, the scale and opportunity of the moment is not lost on him. The World Cup, which occurs every four years, is already the premier tournament in the sport worldwide. With the field expanding to 48 teams for the first time in 2026, the global event will attract billions.
The United States is well-equipped to handle that enormous scale with stable infrastructure. Airports, hotels, roads and public transportation are in place in all 11 American host cities to accommodate millions that will be arriving to the country. And those numbers aren’t underrated. The only other time the United States has hosted a World Cup was in 1994. In that edition, 24 nations competed. And to this day, it’s the largest-attended tournament in World Cup history.
Another legacy of the 1994 World Cup is that it created a world-class professional soccer league here in the United States. Major League Soccer is thriving to this day, and the United States will once again have the chance to create more opportunities to grow the sport and make soccer more accessible to more Americans in 2026.
This commitment to access is a priority in U.S. Soccer’s overall belief that soccer is more than a sport; it’s a force for good. Batson says the key is making sure the federation invests in the sport at all levels. For example, U.S. Soccer has more disability national teams than any other country in the world.
“[We have] a very strong commitment to everyone who wants to play soccer in this country,” Batson said. “We’revery focused on making sure everyone in America can play soccer. We believe soccer is a force for good. It makes communities healthier, happier and more connected. The opportunity to bring soccer to more places and using big events to do things like that is something we’re very passionate about.”
Enter Soccer Forward, the campaign at U.S. Soccer dedicated to making soccer available to everyone – no matter the place, age or skill level. Every time a fan buys a U.S. Soccer scarf or a ticket to a senior team match, part of the sale goes toward the campaign’s mission of building healthier and more connected communities.
“Every American who is part of that, we say thank you. We’re excited to do you proud,” Batson said.
While 2026 will be all about men’s soccer, Batson is also looking ahead to the future of women’s soccer. The U.S. Women’s National Team is the top women’s sports entity in the world and generates more income than any other women’s team – and they’ll have the chance to display why in 2027 and 2031 during the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments.
Currently, the United States is the sole bid to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Similar to the men’s tournament next summer, 2031 will be the first time the Women’s World Cup welcomes a field of 48 teams. Essentially, between 2026 and potentially 2031, the United States would play host to the biggest tournament in men’s and women’s soccer in a short span of five years.
“Women’s sports is a big business, and they’re a great example of that,” Batson said.
The Building Bridges podcast focuses on connection and finding what unites us, which is a goal U.S. Soccer is aiming for, too, beyond the World Cup. On theme with his podcast, Hershman finished his conversation with Batson talking about his hope that, even in a divisive world filled with conflict and tension, the World Cup next summer will not be fraught with hate or politics. He is optimistic that the tournament will be peaceful, respectful and a celebration that shows the world soccer is for everybody.
Batson agreed whole-heartedly that what makes soccer special is the way it brings people together. In fact, he ended the podcast with a charge to his fellow U.S. Soccer fans, one they can keep in mind as they’re buying tickets for next summer – go to a game that the U.S. isn’t playing in. Experience a different culture, watch a different style of play. He says it will be something to remember forever.
“One of the great benefits of the World Cup being here in 2026 and in 2031 is that we’re going to see so many incredible cultures from around the world come together to celebrate their culture and share that with us.”
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