CINCINNATI — Cincinnati residents will find out on June 16 if the city won a bid to host FIFA World Cup soccer matches in the summer of 2026, according to the Associated Press.

A winning bid wouldn’t just be a boost for soccer fans; it could also benefit the Cincinnati Bengals.

That’s because World Cup matches would be played at Paul Brown Stadium, which will be 26 years old by game time. The facility is already considered middle aged by NFL standards.

As the Bengals begin negotiations with Hamilton County over a new lease, expensive upgrades to the stadium could be a sticking point. County officials say taxpayers may be more willing to pay for stadium upgrades if they also benefit the World Cup.

“The county will be keen on honing in to where the overlap is, and then perhaps prioritizing those enhancements because they serve a dual purpose and it’s more bang for the buck,” said Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus. “A lot of it is the same kind of stuff that we’re going to be thinking about anyway. And that’s intentional.”

A delegation of FIFA officials visited Cincinnati last October and toured Paul Brown Stadium as part of its nationwide vetting of potential host cities. The stadium's seating capacity is more than 60,000 and it was designed to transition to a soccer field from a football field.

“When Paul Brown Stadium was built there was an expectation that soccer might be played in that stadium. So, we have the capability, pretty easily, to remove the corners to widen that field and also to remove those seats so that they’re not in the way,” Driehaus said.

FIFA had been expected to announce the winning World Cup host cities in April, but their decision was delayed by some late information and the addition of Vancouver as a potential host.

“You’ve got three countries in the mix, and you’ve got the World Cup organizers who will want to spread it out a little bit,” said Kevin Reichard, publisher of Football Stadium Digest and Soccer Stadium Digest.

World Cup games will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico with games in all three countries. In all, 16 U.S. metro areas are competing to be among the 10 or 11 hosts for matches.

Major cities such as Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Dallas, Boston and Philadelphia are in the running. But Cincinnati is vying to host games in the earlier rounds of the tournament and competing against regional cities such as Kansas City, Nashville and Denver.

Julio Cortez/AP

Several national rankings placed Cincinnati as a long shot to win World Cup matches. Some gave low marks to Paul Brown Stadium, noting that other stadiums are newer, hold more fans and have domes to protect against heat and storms.

A report in February by 42Floors, a branch of California-based real estate data firm Yardi, ranked Cincinnati as 7^th among the then 17 cities vying to host World Cup matches.

The report gave high marks to Cincinnati for its soccer team training facilities and fan fest venues at The Banks and Sawyer Park, and decent scores for its airport proximity and number of hotel rooms.

But the report ranked Paul Brown Stadium as 16^th out of the then 17 competing cities, noting that FIFA places significant emphasis on stadiums in its selection.

Paul Brown Stadium is already under the microscope. The Bengals’ lease with Hamilton County expires in 2026 and negotiations over expensive stadium upgrades have already begun.

The Bengals and the county hired Gensler Sports to evaluate Paul Brown Stadium. The architecture and design firm revealed the results of its capital assessment during an April 26 meeting. It called for extensive repairs over the next two decades to the stadium, which opened in 2000.

The price tag for those repairs is $493 million (in 2021 dollars) focusing largely on repairing and painting steel connections and frames; fixing concrete stair landings; replacing stadium seats and light fixtures; upgrading electric and plumbing; and stopping frequent water leaks.

Emily Gibney

The assessment, paid for by the county and the Bengals, specifically mentioned that stadium upgrades could help win the World Cup.

“It should be noted that recent improvements and renovations that result from the information in this assessment report will significantly contribute to local efforts in securing large scale events such as World Cup,” according to the capital assessment summary.

A second round of potential upgrades to Paul Brown Stadium will be revealed this fall – likely $200 million more in fan enhancements such as mega suites, luxury lounges, high-end food and drink, easier stadium entry, and new signs and scoreboards.

Dwayne Slavey

County officials have not said which updates they will pay for or what their potential budget is.

But, in anticipation of the World Cup bid and for the Bengals, county officials have already started to upgrade the Wi-Fi connectivity at Paul Brown Stadium.

“What can we offer by way of that bid to make it enticing for the World Cup to come here … and these are things that are already on the table, so let’s do that,” Driehaus said.

FIFA also requires that World Cup games be played on grass, so the Bengals’ turf field will have to be removed if Cincinnati wins the bid.

“I’m very positive that we may be selected because we have tried so hard to adjust to what they are saying they need,” said Hamilton County Commissioner Stephanie Summerow Dumas. “I’ve heard the Bengals may possibly want to keep the grass (field) so we may not have to go back and forth … with the renovations.”

Phil Didion | WCPO file

Also on the county’s radar: adding automated signs to streets during games to alleviate traffic congestion and recommend better routes to parking areas and gates, Dumas said.

Reichard, the publisher of the stadium digests, said FIFA likely won’t require a long list of upgrades to Paul Brown Stadium because soccer’s world governing body is most concerned about the volume of seating.

“World Cup officials tend to stress just sheer numbers in terms of how many fans they can cram into the stadium. It’s not a high-end sort of play for a stadium, it’s more of a ‘how many butts can we fit into a space,’” Reichard said. “They also want to make sure that there’s plenty of amenities and hotel rooms for the fans as well … so it’s not necessarily a stadium-facility issue, it’s more a matter of logistics for a big event.”

Cincinnati may not win a World Cup bid because of Paul Brown Stadium, but Joe Cobbs, a professor of sports business at Northern Kentucky University, hopes the city doesn’t lose it because of the stadium.

Darko Bandic/AP

“I think our goal should be to try and renovate the stadium in a way that doesn’t eliminate us from that conversation solely because of the stadium,” Cobbs said. “I don’t think we’re going to win the bid based on our stadium, that’s just not going to happen … but hopefully the city could win the World Cup bid based on other aspects.”

Rick Eckstein, a national stadium expert and sociology professor at Villanova University, said FIFA uses an incredibly complex algorithm to select World Cup host cities.

And once FIFA makes a decision, it will only say why it chose the winning host cities. It never says why it didn’t select certain cities, Eckstein said.

If Cincinnati isn’t chosen, the reasons why, “could be manipulated and will be manipulated,” Eckstein said.

“I can imagine there are even some people who might appreciate being turned down for the World Cup,” Eckstein said. “Because now it would be an added motivator to say, ‘now look what happened, we’ve got this third-grade stadium, we can’t even get the World Cup.’”

CINCINNATI — Christian Pulisic scored on a glancing header with his first touch of the game in the 74th minute, Weston McKennie added a goal in the 85th and the United States beat Mexico 2-0 on Friday night in a World Cup qualifier.

After falling to the Mexicans 2-1 in November 2016 at Columbus, Ohio, the U.S. reverted to the traditional “Dos a Cero” scoreline that marked the four previous home qualifying matchups from 2001-13 — all in Columbus.

Still regaining fitness after spraining his left ankle on Sept. 8 at Honduras, the 23-year-old Pulisic entered in place of Brenden Aaronson in the 69th minute and lifted the U.S. into a first-place tie with Mexico as the 14-game final round of qualifying reached the halfway point.

Yunus Musah, an 18-year-old emerging as a key American midfielder, passed to 21-year-old Tim Weah on the right flank. Weah, the son of Liberia president and former FIFA Player of the Year George Weah, crossed and Pulisic got in front of Johan Vásquez and headed the ball past goalkeeper David Ochoa for his 17th international goal.

Pulisic, making his third substitute appearance following the injury — the first two were for Chelsea — ran to the endline and pointed at the American badge on his jersey and jubilant red-white-and-blue clad U.S. supporters errupted at TQL Stadium.

McKennie, dropped from the roster for two matches in September for violating team COVID-19 protocols, scored after exchanging passes with Jesús Ferreira, McKennie’s eighth international goal.

However, McKennie is suspended for Tuesday’s qualifier at Jamaica after getting his second yellow card of the competition, assessed in the 68th minute for arguing with the officials after they failed to call Mexico for fouling Aaronson.

Defender Miles Robinson also is suspended after getting two yellow cards, the second causing the U.S. to play a man short after the 89th minute.

The U.S. moved into first place in the North and Central American and Caribbean region with 14 points, ahead of Mexico on goal difference. Canada has 13 points, Panama 11, Costa Rica, Jamaica and El Salvador six each and Honduras three.

Three nations from the eight-team group qualify for next year’s tournament in Qatar and the fourth-place team advances to a playoff.

The win was the third this year for the Americans over Mexico, following a 3-2 victory in the Nations League final in June — also on a Pulisic goal — and a 1-0 victory in the CONCACAF Gold final in August.

Rain fell as the game began in a 42-degree chill, the coldest for a U.S. qualifier since the Snow Classico of March 2013, a 1-0 win over Costa Rica played in 29-degree temperatures at Commerce City, Colorado.

Ochoa was booed with each touch, apparently because U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said Thursday that quotes said to be from Ochoa showed the Americans still had to gain Mexico’s respect.

CINCINNATI — Heading to the World Cup qualifier between rivals USA and Mexico? The Cincinnati Police Department is encouraging fans to get to TQL Stadium early.

Road closures began early Friday morning, with southbound Central Parkway already closed between Liberty and 14th Street for Fan Fest. Northbound Central Parkway have periodic closures ahead of the game. Many of the fans heading to the West End will be making the trip for the first time, coming from all parts of North America.

"We're super excited for the USA vs. Mexico game,” said Mireya Gomez, visiting from San Antonio. "We just came to try and you know, be in the moment and it's just really excited to be here."

Portions of Wade, Odeon, 15th, Magnolia and 14th Street will remain closed until around midnight. Joe Rudemiller, vice president of marketing and communications with 3CDC, said fans who want to avoid waiting in bumper-to-bumper traffic should park further away from the stadium.

While the match starts at 9 p.m., gates open at 7 p.m. and everyone will have to go through security. TQL Stadium implemented a clear bag policy for safety reasons. Fans can bring up to a gallon size Ziploc bag into the stadium.

Anyone who has been outside Friday is also aware of colder temperatures in the Tri-State. WCPO's 9 First Warning Weather Team said there continues to be a chance for showers — and a smaller chance for a small mix — Friday night.

Some fans, especially those from out of town, are planning to use ride share apps.

“We've got a rental car, but I think we're gonna leave it at where we're staying and just play it safe," Gomez said. "Uber to the game and uber to the pregame festivities...just take the streetcar around.”

The streetcar is adding extra stops Friday and will run until 1 a.m. Saturday. There will be watch parties at The Banks and at Washington Park.

The Holiday Market is also back at the Convention Center and OTR Chamber Second Sunday on Main take place this weekend.

“So there's a whole bunch of things going on," Rudemiller said. "It's going to be a really exciting weekend downtown.”

CINCINNATI — The delegation tasked with sizing up potential host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on its way to Dallas after a busy Friday looking into what Cincinnati has to offer.

Delegates split into four groups visited the Banks, Paul Brown Stadium and training facilities, as well as met with business and political leaders to decide if Cincinnati is the right place to host World Cup games. Officials must ensure facilities meet the goals of a world-class venue, meaning infrastructure plays a big role in their decision. Still, there is more than brick and mortar that goes into the decision. When picking host cities, delegates are also looking at the community.

"What they're so focused on and concerned about is the spirit of the city...the spirit of this region," said Julie Calvert with Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau. "What's important to them is the authenticity, the spirit of the people here."

Despite the rain, soccer fans turned out — showing off their authenticity and pride in Cincinnati in hopes of seeing the world's greatest players in five years. The passion did not go unnoticed, with Concacaf President Victor Montagliani calling the city "an authentic bunch."

"I love Cincinnati, and for them to get a chance to have such a big, you know, world spotlight on them would be amazing, and I think they can do great things with it," fan Maria Vassanelli said.

FIFA delegates visit Cincinnati for World Cup pitch

Organizers of the bid said the excitement would not only apply to Cincinnati, but surrounding areas. The city has regional partnerships with Cleveland, Columbus, Louisville and other cities to ensure fan experience throughout the region — exciting fans throughout the Tri-State.

"This is an exciting possibility for not only Cincinnati, but for the whole showcase of Northern Kentucky, Indiana. People will come down from all over," fan Jeffery Fromen said. "Three states right together, they have a lot to offer."

Delegates are also thinking about the future of soccer — and Cincinnati brought plenty of young fans to give a look into the area's fanbase.

"Ultimately, the World Cup is delivered by people. That's what's been great to see here today is how everyone has pulled together across the Tri-States and to want to host the World Cup here," said Colin Smith, FIFA's chief competitions and events officer. "The presentation we received today was excellent."

If things go Cincinnati's way, officials said, the World Cup could bring up to $480 million to the Tri-State. There are still 17 other U.S. cities in the running — and organizers believe the city has a great chance of hosting a group stage. A decision should be made by March 2022.

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Editor's note: WCPO 9 is a media sponsor of the group behind the bid Cincinnati Soccer City USA. Our coverage of the bid is not influenced by the sponsorship and our editorial decisions and reporting are independent.