FIFA has announced plans to distribute 100,000 soccer balls to 500 cities across the United States as part of efforts to drum up excitement ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during his address at the United States Conference of Mayors’ Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Under the initiative, each of the 500 member cities represented at the meeting will receive 200 soccer balls in the build-up to the tournament, which the United States will co-host alongside Canada and Mexico.
FIFA said the balls are expected to be used for community celebrations and football-related activities before the competition kicks off on June 11.
The 2026 World Cup will mark a historic expansion of the tournament, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 host cities spread across the three North American countries.
FIFA described the event as a global celebration aimed at uniting people through football.
Infantino said he was pleased to engage with leaders of the 11 U.S. host cities, noting that each city will bring its own unique atmosphere to the tournament.
“I was delighted to meet the mayors of the 11 US Host Cities who will welcome the world in 2026, each bringing their own unique energy to this historic event,” he said.
Beyond the official match venues, several additional cities are expected to serve as base camps for participating teams. Of the 64 proposed team base camps so far, 50 are located within the United States.
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Infantino also highlighted the economic impact of the tournament, revealing that U.S. cities could collectively benefit from an estimated $30 billion boost, driven by more than seven million visiting fans.
Reacting to the announcement, U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt praised FIFA’s gesture, describing the donation as one of the highlights of the meeting.
“We were thrilled to welcome FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the FIFA World Cup trophy to our winter meeting,” Holt wrote on social media.
“His generous and spontaneous announcement of 200 soccer balls for every member city truly stood out.”
The 2026 edition will be the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams, setting the stage for what organizers say will be the largest and most inclusive tournament in football history.