Los Angeles bids to host games of 2026 World Cup

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles, the second largest city of the United States, announced Thursday its official bid to host games for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.

The World Cup in 2026 was scheduled to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first to feature an expanded field of 48 teams.

In a bid video released by the L.A. World Cup Host Committee, former Los Angeles Galaxy and US national star player Cobi Jones called the city as "a soccer city," saying "there's no better place in the United States to have World Cup matches."

Will Ferrell, actor and co-owner of Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), another American professional soccer team based in Los Angeles besides LA Galaxy, also appeared in the video, noting many great players including Zlatan, Beckham, Landon Donovan, Carlos Vela, had played in the city.

"When I think of soccer and L.A., I think of the 1994 World Cup," Ferrell said in the video. "I think of the Women's World Cup in 1999. A hundred-thousand screaming fans at the Rose Bowl."

The 1994 FIFA World Cup Final was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, a neighboring city of Los Angeles, where Brazil defeated Italy in a penalty shootout.

The final of the Women's World Cup in 1999 also played at the Rose Bowl. 90,185 attended the game, setting an international record for spectators at a women's sporting event. The United States won the tournament by defeating China in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw.