Canada Soccer joins co-hosts to Light the Empire State Building celebrating 100 Days to Go until FIFA World Cup 2026™
On Tuesday, March 3, the Empire State Building will rotate in the colours of the flags of the three host countries – the United States, Canada, and Mexico – to mark 100 days to go until the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Earlier today, the Empire State Building hosted a special tower lighting ceremony with Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 26™ New York New Jersey Host Committee; JT Batson, CEO and Secretary General of the U.S. Soccer Federation; Peter Augruso, President of Canada Soccer; Iñigo Riestra López, Secretary General of the Mexican Football Federation; and The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Mascots – Maple™, Zayu™, and Clutch™. After the ceremony, the special guests toured the Observatory Experience and posed for photos on the building’s 86th and 102nd Floor observation decks.
"In 100 days, billions of people will tune in. But long before the first whistle, the World Cup is already doing what it does best — bringing people together across borders, cultures, and generations. Canada is ready to host the world because the world already calls Canada home.”
-Peter Augruso, Canada Soccer President
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will mark the first time the tournament is hosted by three countries – Canada, Mexico, and the United States – and will expand to 48 teams that compete across 16 host cities throughout North America. The tournament will kick off on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
“The Empire State Building has long served as a global gathering place and an iconic New York landmark, and there is no event that brings people together quite like the World Cup. As we prepare for 2026, we are proud to shine our tower lights in honor of the three host nations and look forward to the arrival of fans from around the world at our iconic observation decks.”
-Tony Malkin, Empire State Realty Trust chairman and CEO
More information about the tower lights and Empire State Building tickets can be found online, or text CONNECT to 274-16 for real time updates. Hi-res imagery and b-roll of the lighting ceremony and tower lights can be downloaded here.
About the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience created an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and is ranked the #1 Top Attraction in New York City for the fourth consecutive year in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do, "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List.
Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.
Paulo Senra