FIFA has a decision to make. Miami is one of the 17 cities vying to host the world’s largest sporting event. Miami is ranked #1 in the country for soccer viewership. It hosted El Clasico Miami last season. The game drew $15 million in ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing soccer game in U.S. history. If the city is chosen, soccer fans from around the world will flood into Miami for a month-long festival of sports and culture.
Miami is one 17-city bidder for the 2026 World Cup. The tournament will be held in three Mexican and three Canadian cities. Ten to twelve additional U.S. cities will host matches. Miami’s bid was reviewed by FIFA representatives, who reviewed the stadium’s infrastructure and turf, as well as its commercial potential, sustainability and operations. The decision to award the tournament to Miami is expected by the end of 2018.
The RS X race, which is the final event in the regatta, was won by Pedro Pascual, Men’s RS X sailor. He won gold by winning the fifth race. His performance was impressive enough to earn him the US Sailing Team Golden Torch. He becomes the first windsurfer to win the distinction. Aloise Retornaz and Camille Lecointre won the gold medal in the Women’s 470 category. Jolanta Ogar and Agnieszka Skrzypulec took the bronze.
The Laser sailor division has a high level of competition, with 12 countries sending a representative to Miami 2020. Canada, Mexico, and Antigua each have two representatives in the event. Andrew Lewis, a two-time Olympian, is the favorite to book a place for Canada at the 2020 World Sailing Championships. Lewis won his first Hempel World Cup Series medal in Genoa, Italy last season. Through four races, Lewis leads all North American sailors in the regatta standings. He says Miami sailing conditions are perfect for his sailor’s skills.
The Miami Olympics is already making waves with the selection of a host city. The city is well-known for its international soccer history and has hosted many historic games since the 1970s. In fact, Miami has hosted the Super Bowl almost a dozen times. The city is well-prepared for hosting the 2026 World Cup. Miami hosts many other sporting events, including the World Cup. This year’s competition promises to be a great one for American teams.
Miami’s weather was ideal for sailing. It was greeted with cooler temperatures and sunny skies. The winds gusted up to 20 knots, giving the competitors enough breeze to maneuver through the waves. The World Cup Miami 2020 is the last chance for North American nations to qualify for the Olympic Games in 2020. Despite the cold weather, sailors were able to compete in sunny conditions in the morning and afternoon. If the competition continues to grow, Miami could be a great host city for the 2020 Summer Olympics.