BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham is set to host the World Dodgeball Association World Cup in summer 2028 at the Birmingham CrossPlex, bolstering the city’s status as a global sports destination.
The Birmingham City Council approved a $50,000 funding agreement for the tournament during its March 24 meeting, after the Budget and Finance Committee advanced it to the consent agenda. This marks the first world championship since the 2022 event in Cairo, Egypt, with continental championships held from 2023-2025 in between.
David Galbaugh, vice president of sports sales and marketing for the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, credited early discussions with World Dodgeball Association President Tom Hickson, begun a couple of years ago, and prior successes like the 2022 World Games and 2025 World Police and Fire Games. Galbaugh projected a $2 million economic impact from visitors and about 2,000 hotel room nights, drawing thousands of elite athletes in the cloth ball format to the Five Points West venue.