The United States hasn’t been home to a FIFA Men’s World Cup since 1994, but many of the same cities will be vying for a chance to host matches when the United Bid of Canada, Mexico and the United States brings the games to North America in 2026.



Cincinnati is one of the newcomers in the pool of 23 finalists (17 in the U.S.) and hopes for a shot to hold games at Paul Brown Stadium.



Nine cities hosted 52 games during the 1994 tournament with Detroit, Chicago and Dallas serving as the bridge between two West coast sites and four locations on the East coast. This time, 10 of the 16 venues needed for the 80-match 2026 event are expected to come from the U.S., and again the options feature several coastal cities and high-profile markets.



Here is a look at what works for and against Cincinnati in its bid to host games.



What helps:



It’s a soccer city on the rise. Momentum is on Cincinnati’s side after becoming the latest...