Southampton, the city that will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is set to join the ranks of footballing greats as it becomes the first English city to stage a major international tournament.
The announcement was made by FIFA, the world's governing body for football, on Tuesday, confirming that Southampton will be one of four cities to host matches during the tournament.
The other three venues are Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona.
FIFA said that the decision to award the tournament to Southampton was based on its "exceptional infrastructure" and "commitment to hosting world-class events".
The tournament, which will feature 48 teams, will take place from June 13 to July 15, 2026.
It will be the first time that the tournament has been held outside Europe since Russia hosted the event in 2018.
FIFA said that the decision to award the tournament to Southampton was also driven by the city's "strong support for football" and its "proactive approach to community engagement."
In addition to hosting the tournament, Southampton will also be home to the 2026 FIFA Women's World Cup, which will take place from June 7 to July 7, 2026.
This means that Southampton will become the only English city to have hosted both the men's and women's tournaments at the same time.
The tournament will feature some of the world's top players, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., and Kylian Mbappe.
It will also feature a number of new stadiums, with the venue for each match being determined by the draw system used by FIFA.
Overall, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a landmark moment in the history of football, and Southampton is proud to be part of this historic occasion.