
<p>FIFA did not initially select Las Vegas as a host city for the 2026 World Cup. This was even though Sin City recently erected an incredible state-of-the-art stadium in 2020. Allegiant Stadium, home to the Las Vegas Raiders, was <a href="https://lvsportsbiz.com/2022/10/14/las-vegas-misses-out-on-hosting-2026-world-cup-because-allegiant-stadium-field-tray-is-too-narrow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">overlooked</a> by FIFA officials partially due to its pitch size. </p>



<p>Nevertheless, the arena may soon be a backup option for the world’s governing body of the sport. SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/los-angeles-no-longer-a-world-cup-2026-host-city-says-espn-20231017-WST-462500.html">will not host 2026 World Cup matches</a>. Initially, the arena was a main focus of the tournament. The stadium was even in the running to host the World Cup Final.</p>



<h2>Money is deciding factor in SoFi Stadium issue</h2>



<p>FIFA’s decision to reportedly move on from SoFi Stadium comes down to money. The arena has similar field issues as Allegiant Stadium. However, FIFA still chose Los Angeles as a host city and fully backed playing World Cup games at the stadium. Instead, SoFi Stadium owner Stan Kroenke was not happy about the financial splits between him, the city and FIFA. This monetary feud ultimately ruined a deal between the parties involved.</p>



<p>This is where Las Vegas comes into play. Rumors of switching the California city for Las Vegas quickly surfaced following the disappointing news about SoFi Stadium. Although the Allegiant Stadium pitch does have similar problems as SoFi Stadium, it is not a dealbreaker. This comes down to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority’s willingness to make adjustments.</p>



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<h2>Las Vegas officials ready to work with FIFA for World Cup</h2>



<p>Steve Hill, the Las Vegas stadium board chairman, previously <a href="https://lvsportsbiz.com/2022/10/14/las-vegas-misses-out-on-hosting-2026-world-cup-because-allegiant-stadium-field-tray-is-too-narrow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">claimed</a> that the city considered widening the arena’s turf to appease FIFA. Hill also stated that it would take almost nine months to grow the extra grass in time for games. This leaves plenty of time to make the necessary alterations to the stadium before the World Cup begins.</p>



<p>Allegiant Stadium has also hosted significantly more soccer matches than SoFi Stadium as well. Despite just opening in 2020, the arena has been the host of a dozen top matchups in the sport. This includes several international friendlies, as well as the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final and the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Final.</p>



<p>Along with the city willing to play ball with FIFA and the stadium being the second-most expensive arena in the world, Las Vegas may be an ideal destination for World Cup travelers. Tourism is a key component of the city. In fact, <a href="https://www.dreambigtravelfarblog.com/blog/las-vegas-travel-tourism-statistics#:~:text=What%20is%20this%3F-,Las%20Vegas%20Travel%20%26%20Tourism%20Key%20Statistics,was%20from%20within%20the%20US." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">38 million</a> people reportedly traveled to Las Vegas in 2022 alone. The self-described “Entertainment Capital of the World” could pick up a boost come the summer of 2026.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO &amp; ZUMA Wire</em></p>


Why Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium is perfect for World Cup 2026

FIFA officials may look to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as a potential backup plan to host 2026 World Cup matches.

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<p>The semifinal and final of the 2023 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/concacaf-nations-league-schedule/">CONCACAF Nations League</a> is headed to Las Vegas. On Monday, CONCACAF, the governing body for North American soccer, announced Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium will host the three-game mini-tournament. </p>



<p>Las Vegas is not new to hosting meaningful and major matches. Last summer, Allegiant Stadium saw <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWewjcIfMYQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Madrid battle Barcelona</a> in the second edition of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/06/10/barca-to-play-real-madrid-in-pre-season-clasico-in-las-vegas/">El Clasico</a> in the United States. The summer before that saw the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a> in action. The United States defeated Mexico in the Gold Cup Final in extra time at Allegiant Stadium to win its second trophy of the summer. Interestingly, the first of those two trophies was the CONCACAF Nations League Finals in 2021. However, Denver hosted that three-game competition among four teams.</p>



<p>This year, it is Las Vegas’s turn to host. The four competing teams come from the winners of each of the groups in the CONCACAF Nations League A. After that phase wraps up, the highest-finishing team from the effective group stage plays the lowest-finishing group winner based on points total in the semifinals of the Nations League. Both of the semifinals for the CONCACAF Nations League are on Thursday, June 15. The Final is just a few days later on Sunday, June 18. If it is anything as dramatic as the Final in 2021, it will be worth it to watch.</p>



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<p>Tickets for the Nations League Finals in Las Vegas go on sale before the first phase of the competition concludes. Sale opens Monday, March 27, at 1 p.m. ET. However, the United States, Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica all have two games to play in the three-team round robin. Some of them play later that day, or even on Tuesday, March 28.</p>



<h2>Las Vegas hosting the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals</h2>



<p>As part of Monday’s announcement on the venue, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is excited to get more important games in Las Vegas.</p>



<p>“The City of Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium will be tremendous hosts of the 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League Finals,” Montagliani said. “We all enjoyed an outstanding Gold Cup Final at the same venue in 2021, and I have no doubt the quality of the teams combined with the world-class facility will draw fans from across our region.”</p>



<p>To be fair, Allegiant Stadium is a state-of-the-art location. Opening in the summer of 2020, the stadium cost an estimated $2 billion. The home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant Stadium will add another soccer game to its already impressive list of hosting achievements. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire</em></p>


CONCACAF announced that Las Vegas is hosting the 2023 Nations League Finals after it hosted the Gold Cup Final in 2021.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Allegiant Stadium"

FIFA

Why Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium is perfect for World Cup 2026

CONCACAF

Las Vegas to host 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals