Events DC — the city’s sports, entertainment, and conventions authority — and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser are pushing to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in D.C.

A newly created D.C. FIFA World Cup 2026 Advisory Board officially announced the bid this morning, citing D.C.’s hub of international relations, experience in operating large-scale events, and local champion sports teams as factors that boost the city’s hosting potential. According to the release, the World Cup would serve as an economic driver in the city as well, bringing in an estimated $500 million and 3,500 new jobs.

“Right now, as countries around the world continue to respond to this pandemic, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is something we can all look forward to,” Bowser says in the press release. “And when the tournament comes to North America, it only makes sense for DC — the Sports Capital and District of Champions — to host. We are already a city united by the game, and in 2026, we look forward to uniting the world.”

The city has become a somewhat of a locus of national sporting champions, following the Nationals’ and Mystics’ championship titles last fall, and Capitals’ Stanley Cup win in 2018. D.C. last hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1994 (the last time the event was held in the U.S.) and hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999 and 2003. In 2026’s 80 game-lineup, 60 games will be played in the U.S., while the remaining 20 will be split between Mexico and Canada. Other host city contenders include Baltimore, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.

Joining the new advisory board are prominent figures in the pro soccer world, including Jason Levin, D.C. United’s CEO and managing general partner; Eddie Pope, a former D.C. United player and hall-of-famer; and Briana Scurry, an Olympic gold medalist and Washington Spirit assistant coach. D.C. chef and humanitarian José Andrés, Interim Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio, and Events D.C. President Gregory O’Dell are also on the 41-person board.

According to Mark Ein, the advisory board co-chair and CEO of Capitol Investment Corp, the bid includes plans to host the games at FedEx Field, the current home of D.C.’s NFL team in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Other sites in D.C. like The Fields at RFK and Audi Field will be used for training purposes.

The final decision on the host will be made next summer, according to Ein, and in the next year the board will work on developing materials and completing site visits to bolster the bid for FIFA officials.

“Obviously this has been a hard year,” says Ein. “But this will give us all something to look forward to.”

While 2026 might seem like a century away from the current moment, the city is quickly moving full steam ahead on its bidding campaign. On the official website for DC2026, people can already sign up to volunteer at the games, or sign a petition to support D.C.’s bid.

This story has been updated to reflect statements from Mark Ein and the proposed venue for the 2026 games in D.C.