By Andy Greder

Pioneer Press

Sports Minneapolis will respond on behalf of the city and U.S. Bank Stadium to a request for information to be a potential host for 2026 World Cup games.

U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings’ home field, was named Tuesday as one of 49 stadiums in 44 cities to be considered as locations for the pinnacle international men’s soccer competition, which is expected to be hosted across the U.S., Canada and Mexico in nine years.

The United Bid Committee has requested information from each of the cities and stadiums to declare their basic interests to take part in the bid process by Sept. 5.

After cities declare interest, the United Bid Committee will review submissions and issue a short list of contenders in late September. Final bids are due in January 2018.

In March, the committee will then include 20-25 venues in its final submission to FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, to determine the chance of hosting matches or other possible opportunities.

The joint North American bid would then go up against Morocco before the FIFA Congress to see which bid will host the cup.