FIFA opened a 60,000-square-foot office in Coral Gables, near Miami, to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Last week, the organization inaugurated the location as the new home of the Legal and Compliance Division; about 100 staff relocated from FIFA headquarters in Zurich to Coral Gables. Miami is one of 11 American host cities for the World Cup.
The office is inside the same building as television network HBO at 396 Alhambra Circle and close to the upscale Miracle Mile shopping center.
“For the last 100 years, FIFA was based in Zurich, but we are a global association, we need to be close to the member associations [MA], so by establishing this office in Miami, we will reach 10 MAs in South America and 35 MAs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean,” said Emilio Garcia Silvero, FIFA chief legal and compliance officer.
FIFA will stage as many as five matches and Miami is also bidding to be home of the tournament's International Broadcast Centre, Main Media Centre, and FanFest site.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to relocate to Miami in the build-up to the World Cup, as he did to Doha before the tournament in Qatar last year.
FIFA predicts the World Cup will generate $11 billion from 2023 to 2026 as it expands the World Cup to a 48-team format.