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Approving three multiyear agreements with the Federation Internationale de Football Association and any amendments and addenda thereto, as well as ancillary agreements with other parties, concerning the participation of the City in hosting and staging the 2026 FIFA World Cup; all under certain terms and conditions.
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WHEREAS, the Federation Internationale de Football Association (“FIFA”) is the world governing body for the sport of football, which it promotes on a worldwide basis through its development programs, as well as by organizing, supervising, and promoting international football competitions and supports and funds programs that support social development through football; and
WHEREAS, FIFA is the creator of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (the “Competition”) and has ultimate authority over the manner in which the Competition is staged and organized; and
WHEREAS, FIFA invited its member associations, including the United States Soccer Federation, Inc. (the “USSF”), to bid for the right to host and stage the Competition; and
WHEREAS, the FIFA Congress selected the USSF as one of the member associations to co-organize the Competition with FIFA, and the City of Philadelphia was selected as one of the host cities of the Competition; and
WHEREAS, any selected host city for the Competition must enter into multiple agreements with FIFA and other related parties, including, but not limited to, a multiyear Host City Agreement, which contains the obligations of the host city in connection with the hosting and staging of the Competition (the “Obligations”); and
WHEREAS, the Managing Director and other representatives of the City have entered into: (a) a Host City Agreement, (b) a Stadium Agreement, and (c) an Airport Agreement with FIFA, as well as amendments and addenda to those agreements and agreements with other parties ancillary thereto, as necessary to carry out the City’s Obligations; and
WHEREAS, Council desires to give its specific approval of such multiyear agreements, the amendments to those agreements and such ancillary agreements; now, therefore
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. The following multi-year agreements entered into between the City and FIFA, as well amendments thereto and ancillary agreements with other parties necessary to carry out such agreements, are hereby approved, as are further amendments to such agreements as may be in the best interests of the City:
(a) a Host City Agreement, entered into in January, 2018, and amended in June, 2022;
(b) a Stadium Agreement, entered into on or about January, 2018;
(c) an Airport Agreement, entered into in January, 2018 and amended in June, 2022; and
(d) addenda to the Host City Agreement and Airport Agreements entered into in June, 2022.
SECTION 2. The City Solicitor is authorized to approve of technical changes to such agreements as the Solicitor deems necessary or appropriate to protect the interests of the City.
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