Supporting Efforts to Bring the 2026 Fifa World Cup Competition to Canada, Mexico, and the United States
Floor Speech
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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America and our North American neighbors of Canada and Mexico have a wonderful opportunity to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. This is a combined North American bid.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Representative LaHood, and Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their support of this resolution, and I also commend my colleagues, Congressman Bacon and Congressman Kihuen, who also co-chair the Congressional Soccer Caucus.
The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994. We had nine cities. The attendance was over 3\1/2\ million. We think now for 2026 it is going to be bigger and better than ever because we are going to combine efforts with our North American neighbors of Canada and Mexico, where they will also host many of the tournament matches.
Mr. Speaker, I noticed that Mr. Webster was on the floor, along with Ms. Ros-Lehtinen and Mr. Deutch, and they should be proud to know that Orlando and Miami, from our home State of Florida, will be participating, and we love soccer in the Sunshine State.
But I also offer my strong support for this resolution because of the inspiration that the World Cup soccer tournament provides to young people all across this country. It is like the Olympics. It encourages them to be healthy and well, to participate in team supports and athletics. It exposes and encourages children and young people to be good sports and understand what a world competition means in a friendly way.
Studies show that team sports lead to healthier lifestyles, increased knowledge about exercise and nutrition, positive gains in reading and math; and that is why the Congressional Soccer Caucus works with the U.S. Soccer Foundation because they really provide the national model for programs about ``the beautiful game,'' and they make so many helpful investments in communities across the country to encourage kids to get out, be active, and learn about great sportsmanship.
So here is this resolution. We are coming together in a bipartisan way, to recognize the effort, to support it, to make sure that Americans everywhere know that we expect the men's team to live up to their expectations. The women's team, national team, of course, has been champion after champion after champion. It is time, also, for the men's team and this generation to try to meet their goals.
We would like to encourage everyone to pay attention, support the effort.
Again, I thank my colleague, Mr. LaHood, Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel; and I urge the House to kick this resolution towards passage so that we can meet our goals.
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