The report identifies Soldier Field as the strongest established option. The stadium hosted five matches at the 1994 World Cup and was included on a preliminary list of venues for the 2026 men’s tournament.
Its football capacity can reach between 61,500 and 65,000, depending on the configuration. Recent Chicago Fire and Inter Miami meetings have also demonstrated the venue’s ability to attract major crowds, including an attendance of 62,538 for a Lionel Messi appearance in April 2025.
That track record would give Chicago a ready-made case: a central venue, major-event history and evidence of local demand for high-profile football.
The other possibility is McDonald’s Park, the Chicago Fire’s planned soccer-specific stadium in The 78. The project is reportedly designed for 22,000 spectators and could open in 2028, leaving time for the venue to establish itself before the tournament.
A smaller football-focused stadium could offer a more tailored matchday environment, but it would lack Soldier Field’s capacity and World Cup history. The choice would therefore define Chicago’s bid: broad scale and experience, or a newer venue built around club football.
Chicago has previously stepped away from World Cup hosting processes over uncertainty around taxpayer costs. That history makes public funding, transport planning and venue guarantees critical parts of any 2031 proposal.
The Chicago Sports Commission is expected to lead the candidacy process. Its next challenge is to turn political support into a detailed, financially credible venue plan. The key storyline will be whether Chicago can secure the event without repeating the concerns that ended its previous bids.