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By Goli Innocent
FIFA has announced plans to distribute 100,000 footballs to 500 cities across the United States as part of efforts to build excitement ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino while addressing delegates at the United States Conference of Mayors’ (USCM) Winter Meeting in Washington, DC.
Under the initiative, each of the 500 member cities represented at the meeting will receive 200 footballs in the build-up to the tournament.
According to information published on FIFA’s website, the balls will be used for community events and celebrations leading up to the opening match of the World Cup, which kicks off on June 11, 2026.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Infantino described the 2026 World Cup as a historic global event, noting that it will feature 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 host cities spread across the three countries.
“With 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 host cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be a celebration of humanity, bringing people together in joy and in the spirit of football,” he said.
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The FIFA president also revealed that he met with mayors from the 11 US host cities during the meeting, praising their enthusiasm and preparations for the tournament.
“I was delighted to meet the mayors of the 11 US host cities who will welcome the world in 2026, each bringing their own unique energy to this historic event,” Infantino added.
Beyond the official match venues, several other cities in the United States are expected to play key roles during the tournament. Of the 64 proposed team-based camps currently under consideration, 50 are located in the US, underscoring the country’s central role in hosting the competition.
Infantino further told delegates that the World Cup is projected to deliver a major economic boost, with US cities collectively expected to benefit by as much as $30bn, as more than seven million fans travel from around the world to attend the tournament.
Reacting to the announcement, USCM President Mayor David Holt described FIFA’s gesture as a major highlight of the meeting.
“We were thrilled to welcome FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the FIFA World Cup trophy to our winter meeting,” Holt said in a social media post.
“His generous and spontaneous announcement of a donation of 200 soccer balls to every member city was truly a highlight of the week.”
The 2026 World Cup will be the first in history to feature an expanded 48-team format, a move FIFA says is aimed at making the tournament more inclusive and globally representative.
