4885-0613-9748.1
May 15, 2023
The Honorable Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor, City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Subject: FIFA World Cup 2026 at Levi’s Stadium
Dear Mayor Gillmor,
The Bay Area Host Committee’s mission is to bring world-class events to the Bay Area that drive economic vitality, community-wide engagement, civic pride and global recognition.
Working with the City of Santa Clara, we have already succeeded in bringing one of the most significant and prestigious international events there is: the FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Following our successful hosting and operation of the World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium in the summer of 2026, we believe that the City will forever be known as a World Cup host city, just as Stanford has been since it hosted FIFA Men’s World Cup matches in 1994. According to FIFA, with 48 nations qualifying for the final and over 100 matches scheduled in 16 venues across North America, World Cup 2026 will be the largest single sporting event ever held.
As the Bay Area Host Committee scales into a more established and independent entity, our objective is to work cooperatively and productively with the City as we move into the subsequent phases of the World Cup bid, and then event operations. The competitive bidding process phase will conclude in late summer or early fall when FIFA announces what matches will be played in each North American host city.
In order for a meaningful and mutually beneficial partnership to work, we know that we must build a strong, transparent and collaborative relationship with the City. We understand and are sensitive to the fact that you and the City Council are stewards of City resources and must act in the best interests of the City and its residents. We want to help you succeed in that regard, and thus a strong partnership that is governed by trust and mutual respect is imperative to us too; the operational success of the World Cup event demands it.
Over the next three (3) years, BAHC’s partnership with the City will be the engine that drives economic growth, vitality and opportunity for the City and surrounding areas. Additionally, BAHC acknowledges that our ability to attract future events is, of course, also dependent on our reputation as reliable partners as well as our ability to deliver on our promises. To that end, we
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are confident that we can satisfy the City’s informational and other needs, and ultimately put on an event that the City, and the entire Bay Area, will be proud of.
In closing, the Bay Area Host Committee is excited to work with the City to bring the FIFA World Cup, as well as potentially other major sports and entertainment events, to the City and to the region. As stated above, our goal is to attract events that will positively influence and drive community engagement, bestow significant economic benefits, and inspire active, healthy lifestyles for all ages. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to work with you and your team on this monumental endeavor, and here is to our collective success.
Sincerely,
Zaileen Janmohamed
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
Bay Area Host Committee
@BayAreaHostCommittee