USA, Canada, Mexico Submit Joint Bid To Host 2026 FIFA World Cup


The U.S., Canada and Mexico have submitted a joint bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The three nations confirmed the bid on Monday, per U.S. Soccer. U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati issued a statement in the release:

"This is a milestone day for U.S. Soccer and for CONCACAF. We gave careful consideration to the prospect of bidding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and ultimately feel strongly this is the right thing for our region and for our sport.

Along with our partners from the Canadian Soccer Association and the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol, we are confident that we will submit an exemplary bid worthy of bringing the FIFA World Cup back to North America.

The United States, Mexico and Canada have individually demonstrated their exceptional abilities to host world-class events. When our nations come together as one, as we will for 2026, there is no question the United States, Mexico and Canada will deliver an experience that will celebrate the game and serve players, supporters and partners alike."

The final decision on who will host it is currently set to be made in 2020.

The 2026 edition of the tournament will be the first to feature 48 teams, with FIFA having voted in January to expand the field from 32 competing nations.

As a result of the expansion, the tournament will be comprised of 80 matches. Given the stadiums and infrastructure already in place, the United States—who held the World Cup in 1994—would perhaps play host to the most matches of the three countries.

Mexico also have experience in this area, though, having hosted it in 1970 and 1986, while Canada hosted the 2015 Women's World Cup.

The U.S. previously bid to host the 2022 World Cup solo, only to lose out to Qatar. With Russia hosting the 2018 edition, FIFA's rotational policy means European and Asian countries cannot bid to host the tournament in 2026, meaning the joint bid might only have to contend with bids from South America, Africa or Oceania.

Should the bid be successful, it would mark only the second time the World Cup has been hosted by multiple countries, following on from South Korea and Japan in 2002.

On that occasion, both nations were granted qualification to the tournament as hosts, as is tradition. While it is as yet unclear if the same will be true for Canada, Mexico and the U.S., it seems fairly likely given the expanded field.

BleacherReport

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