NFL invites Miami to bid for Super Bowl slot following World Cup success
The invitation reverses previous assessments of Hard Rock Stadium’s suitability, leveraging infrastructure upgrades and positive community engagement from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Miami has formally expressed interest in bidding for one of the four Super Bowl slots available from 2031 onwards, following its role as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rodney Barreto, co-chair of the South Florida World Cup host committee, confirmed that the NFL has invited the city to submit a bid, marking a reversal of previous assessments that deemed Hard Rock Stadium unsuitable for the title game.
This renewed interest coincides with the stadium’s role in hosting the third-place consolation match, where England defeated France 6-4. Barreto stated he had signed papers certifying Miami’s interest in hosting a future Super Bowl prior to the England-France match on Saturday, 18 July. The invitation suggests a shift in perception regarding the venue’s viability, with plans to leverage infrastructure improvements made for the World Cup, such as upgraded suites and the F1 paddock area.
Under current NFL rules, cities cannot bid on hosting the Super Bowl unless invited by the league. The invitation indicates South Florida is now viewed as a viable candidate for the title games commencing in 2031, as the slots prior to that date are already allocated. Barreto plans to leverage the infrastructure improvements made for the World Cup, such as the F1 paddock area and upgraded suites, to persuade NFL executives.
The renewed interest follows Miami's successful hosting of seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, including a high-scoring consolation final between England and France, which drew significant crowds and positive community engagement. Over 600,000 people attended the fan fest at Bayfront Park, and the matches featured top global stars, including Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice in the consolation match to reach 10 goals for the tournament.
Hard Rock Stadium is reverting to its formal name, dropping the "Miami Stadium" branding required by FIFA, which was noted as inaccurate as the stadium is not located within Miami city limits. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross revealed in the spring that NFL owners no longer considered Hard Rock Stadium suitable for the Super Bowl, but the current invitation suggests a shift in perception. Barreto, meanwhile, hopes to simply change hats from one planning committee chair to another. He’ll twist NFL arms with all the reasons to bring the big game back here. He said he can’t wait to show NFL honchos the F1 paddock area and its swank suites that are about to get even more swank.
