U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM GOALKEEPER, ZACK STEFFEN, JOINS PHILADELPHIA SOCCER 2026 AS AN HONORARY CO-CHAIR TO SUPPORT THE REGION’S WORLD CUP BID
PHILADELPHIA (April 13, 2021) – Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the City’s official FIFA World Cup 2026™ bid committee, today announced that Zack Steffen, the highly regarded goalkeeper for the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) and for English Premier League’s Manchester City, will serve as an Honorary Co- Chair of the City’s efforts to host the FIFA World Cup. Steffen joins with Carli Lloyd, Julie and Zach Ertz, and Alejandro Bedoya, as well as Governor Tom Wolf and Mayor Jim Kenney, in the Honorary Chair role to help champion Philadelphia to FIFA and U.S. Soccer as the organizations formally evaluate 17 U.S. candidate cities for 10 U.S. host slots.
Steffen will host an Instagram Live (@zacksteffen_) today at 3:30pm ET / 8:30pm BST to chat with fans - at home and abroad – about his support for Philadelphia’s FIFA World Cup™ bid.
A native of Coatesville and a graduate of Downingtown West High School, Steffen is considered a rising superstar in international soccer. After a two-year college career at the University of Maryland, Steffen made his professional debut with Freiburg II before moving to MLS’s Columbus Crew SC in 2016. In his first two years there, he helped Columbus reach the playoffs twice and was named 2018 MLS Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year after keeping 10 clean sheets. He was loaned to Fortuna Dusseldorf for the 2019- 2020 season and in the middle of the 2019 MLS season, he was transferred from Columbus to Manchester City. Throughout his amateur and professional career, Steffen has represented the USMNT and is the current first choice keeper, having won 17 caps at full international level to date.
“We are delighted to have Zack Steffen be part of Philadelphia’s bid for the 2026 World Cup,” said David
L. Cohen, Senior Advisor for Comcast Corporation and Chair of Philadelphia Soccer 2026. “Being a local product with such deep roots in our incredible soccer community, Zack is a fantastic voice for why hosting the World Cup would mean so much to the Philadelphia region. His passion for growing the game aligns perfectly with the Bid’s goals as well as those of our previously named Honorary Co-Charis: Carli, Julie, Zach, and Alejandro.”
Steffen also shared his excitement in serving as an Honorary Co-Chair for Philadelphia’s bid. “As a kid growing up here, playing soccer for West Chester United and FC Delco, and training at the Philadelphia Union Academy, I am thrilled to be able to help bring the world’s biggest sporting event to my hometown. I’ve been lucky to be part of soccer’s growth in our region and I know it’s on the verge of just exploding in popularity and play here. The World Cup coming to Philadelphia in 2026 would be a major moment in achieving that. I can’t wait to work with Carli, Julie, Zach, and Alejandro to make sure Philadelphia hosts this event for FIFA, U.S. Soccer, and the world.”
Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is actively engaged in the work of the bid, having just last month completed a productive workshop with FIFA and U.S. Soccer around stadium infrastructure and other hosting requirements. It is expected that additional virtual workshops will be scheduled in the coming months and that an in-person site visit for all 17 candidate host cities will occur later this year. The final selection of the 10 host cities awarded World Cup matches is expected to be announced in late 2021.
For additional information regarding Philadelphia’s bid for FIFA World Cup 2026™, please visit: www.philadelphia2026.com.
About Philadelphia Soccer 2026
Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is Philadelphia’s civic committee overseeing the region’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Established in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is governed by a five-person Board of Directors, which includes representatives from the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (the sponsoring entity of the bid) and the City of Philadelphia.
####