World Cup 2026 awarded to USA, Mexico and Canada joint-bid at FIFA congress [Update Post #19]

[hafeezrocks]

Tough race between a Joint North American Bid of US-Mexico-Canada and Morocco.

Morocco is one step closer to hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2026


https://qz.com/1295790/world-cup-mo...ection-faces-runoff-with-americas-united-bid/

The North African Nation will be a good choice to hold the tournament in a region Wheree it has never taken place.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

The joint North American bid is really just an American bid with the other two nations getting a token number of matches. America will get 60 matches and the other two will get 10 each. All the matches from the quarterfinals onwards will be in America too.

The 1994 World Cup was the first one I followed in any detail (still feel sorry for Roberto Baggio ) and it was a good one with packed stadiums. Hope the Americans get it again.

 

[Rafa]

Why do countries even bother with hosting such expensive events and get stuck in huge debt building infrstraucture that will be of no use know the tournament is over? Its what happened in SA and even Brazil.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Why do countries even bother with hosting such expensive events and get stuck in huge debt building infrstraucture that will be of no use know the tournament is over? Its what happened in SA and even Brazil.

Countires recieved large number of tourists and repeat tourists after such tournaments. It raises the profile of these nations and the infrastructure remains for future use.

FIFA itself made billions and is looking to make over $10billion in profit if the 2026 world cup is held in the North America.

USA had the world cup in 1994 and isnt really a football loving nation so it wouldn't be fair for them to get the world cup again esp since their Presisdent has been making threats of not allowing certian people in to the country.

I really hope Morocco wins the bid, I will be there for the whole month!

 

[Pakistanian]

Countires recieved large number of tourists and repeat tourists after such tournaments. It raises the profile of these nations and the infrastructure remains for future use.

FIFA itself made billions and is looking to make over $10billion in profit if the 2026 world cup is held in the North America.

USA had the world cup in 1994 and isnt really a football loving nation so it wouldn't be fair for them to get the world cup again esp since their Presisdent has been making threats of not allowing certian people in to the country.

I really hope Morocco wins the bid, I will be there for the whole month!

But Mexico loves futbol and they're part of the bid.

 

[KingKhanWC]

But Mexico loves futbol and they're part of the bid.

They had the world cup in 1986 and looking back it was a great tournament where Maradonna showed his magnificent skills .

TBh and yes there is bias but it's a disgrace there has been no world cup in England since 1966! We are the home of football .

 

[shaz619]

Would be nice to have it over here in England, shocking they always miss out

 

[Pakistanian]

They had the world cup in 1986 and looking back it was a great tournament where Maradonna showed his magnificent skills .

TBh and yes there is bias but it's a disgrace there has been no world cup in England since 1966! We are the home of football .

Haha forget England. Y'all had the Olympics not too long ago. 1986 and 1994 is a REALLY long time ago, I didn't even exist in those years! Would love to see the world cup here.

 

[James]

Would love it to be Morocco for the first World Cup in North Africa. An easy country to get to with fantastic weather - but I’m resigned to it being in North America, which of course Trump will take credit for even though he has had nothing to do with it (somebody else will be the President in 2026 anyway).

 

[moghul]

Countires recieved large number of tourists and repeat tourists after such tournaments. It raises the profile of these nations and the infrastructure remains for future use.

FIFA itself made billions and is looking to make over $10billion in profit if the 2026 world cup is held in the North America.

USA had the world cup in 1994 and isnt really a football loving nation so it wouldn't be fair for them to get the world cup again esp since their Presisdent has been making threats of not allowing certian people in to the country.

I really hope Morocco wins the bid, I will be there for the whole month!

Trump will be long gone and might be buried by then. USA has large number of big cities with huge stadiums and a large number of soccer loving followers, all games will be sold out, makes a lot of sense to host the WC in 1926.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Trump will be long gone and might be buried by then. USA has large number of big cities with huge stadiums and a large number of soccer loving followers, all games will be sold out, makes a lot of sense to host the WC in 1926.

You mean 2026?

First of all it's football, you hit the ball with your foot?

The world cup in 94 was a success and sure it was deserved but there are far more passionate football nations which are closer to even bigger football loving areas who should get to host this one. Europe is the land of football, all the best clubs are in Europe. I remember watching the 94 finals and the timing was not very good for us in Europe, having to stay wait until late evening to watch games.

North Africa has never hosted the tournament and deserves a shot.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Haha forget England. Y'all had the Olympics not too long ago. 1986 and 1994 is a REALLY long time ago, I didn't even exist in those years! Would love to see the world cup here.

And the London Olympics were the best of all time!

If USA win the bid, you should defiantly go to some games.

 

[Slog]

They had the world cup in 1986 and looking back it was a great tournament where Maradonna showed his magnificent skills .

TBh and yes there is bias but it's a disgrace there has been no world cup in England since 1966! We are the home of football .

Why is it so that England hasn't hosted the WC for so long and why isn't there any hue and cry in the English press about it?

 

[KingKhanWC]

Why is it so that England hasn't hosted the WC for so long and why isn't there any hue and cry in the English press about it?

England were strong favourites to win the bid for this years world cup but it was given to Russia. FIFA was always seen to be corrupt organistaion and there were undercover investigations which revealed the voting members were bribed into voting for Russia. England as a nation was very excited waiting to be given the tournament with leading star players such as Beckham helping with the bid process but it was a massive shock to lose out.

We hosted the Euro's in 96 which were a huge success with a record number of fans travelling into England to watch their teams plays. This was seen as good evidence to provide the voters to prove how efficient England are at hosting big sporting events.

The hooligan label which remains with England today didn't help but this type of behaviour is pretty much in the past apart from rare occruances between rival clubs in big games.

FIFA have a continental rotation policy but since the world cup of 2022 is in Qatar Im not sure why England didnt bid for the 2026. But now after 2026 the tournament will almost certainly come back to Europe with the only obstacle being China who were previously banned from entering. Hopefully by then the English clubs will be winning major European tournaments more regularly as the money in English football is at a phenomenal level now. Im confident England will be hosting the 2030 world cup marking the 100th anniversary of the World Cup being played at the home of football.

 

[Slog]

England were strong favourites to win the bid for this years world cup but it was given to Russia. FIFA was always seen to be corrupt organistaion and there were undercover investigations which revealed the voting members were bribed into voting for Russia. England as a nation was very excited waiting to be given the tournament with leading star players such as Beckham helping with the bid process but it was a massive shock to lose out.

We hosted the Euro's in 96 which were a huge success with a record number of fans travelling into England to watch their teams plays. This was seen as good evidence to provide the voters to prove how efficient England are at hosting big sporting events.

The hooligan label which remains with England today didn't help but this type of behaviour is pretty much in the past apart from rare occruances between rival clubs in big games.

FIFA have a continental rotation policy but since the world cup of 2022 is in Qatar Im not sure why England didnt bid for the 2026. But now after 2026 the tournament will almost certainly come back to Europe with the only obstacle being China who were previously banned from entering. Hopefully by then the English clubs will be winning major European tournaments more regularly as the money in English football is at a phenomenal level now. Im confident England will be hosting the 2030 world cup marking the 100th anniversary of the World Cup being played at the home of football.

Yea but 2030 is such a long way to go! I'll be almost 40 then lol.

Tbh for many commonwealth country citizens a World Cup is England is probably the only time they will consider going to watch a football World Cup.

Also home come Mexico got to host 2 World Cups out of 5 World Cups between 1970 and 1986 whereas England has only ever hosted one!?!?

 

[KingKhanWC]

Yea but 2030 is such a long way to go! I'll be almost 40 then lol.

Tbh for many commonwealth country citizens a World Cup is England is probably the only time they will consider going to watch a football World Cup.

Also home come Mexico got to host 2 World Cups out of 5 World Cups between 1970 and 1986 whereas England has only ever hosted one!?!?

ha sure but maybe a good thing for England, hopefully they will produce a team worthy of winning the cup by then! This years squad is the weakest I've seen going to a tournament since I started watching football.

Since hosting it in 1966, the 70's and 80's saw a big rise in hooliganism which held England back tbf nobody here can argue with that. But now the stadiums are great, the new fans are not into violence and England are great hosts.

Have you seen the move Football Factory? It's pretty much sums up how football was a working class game where supporting a club became very tribal and you would simply hate other people because they supported a rival club. Now in England, it's no longer a working class game with ticket prices a expensive enough for such people not to attend many games. When I first started going to football games in the late 90's we used to stand in the terraces and from the first whistle it was signing all the way until the end but now this atmosphere has dwindled some what but still can be seen in big games as you may have seen in the Champions league this season. Then I used to stand next to big bellied blokes with factory overalls on eating pies and using all sorts of obscene language but now I sometimes see a middle aged women dressed impeccably smiling when a tackle is made. People travel from all over the world to watch a premiership game now but there are still fans who go every Saturday to watch their team in the lower leagues. With 72 league teams and many more non-league teams football is part of the culture here. Not a day goes by when someone I know at work, at the gym or even at a restaurants spends time talking about football. You'll still be young enough in 2030, hope you get to come to England and watch some matches, it will be a great experience .

 

[moghul]

You mean 2026?

First of all it's football, you hit the ball with your foot?

The world cup in 94 was a success and sure it was deserved but there are far more passionate football nations which are closer to even bigger football loving areas who should get to host this one. Europe is the land of football, all the best clubs are in Europe. I remember watching the 94 finals and the timing was not very good for us in Europe, having to stay wait until late evening to watch games.

North Africa has never hosted the tournament and deserves a shot.

Football, yes everyone knows is very popular here in USA, but soccer, not many people not living in USA know also has very big numbers of followers. Just last year, six new soccer fields opened in my town here in NJ. Soccer WC , as in 1994, will be played in huge football stadiums, which are so many here.

 

[Pakistanian]

People forget that soccer is indeed very popular here, it has the highest participation rate for kids of any sports, it also popular in immigrant communities.

Also people forget that the US women's national team has won the world cup a couple times already and is one of the best teams in the world. The men will catch up, we played 7 straight world cups from 1990 till 2014 and are arguably the best team in CONCACAF.

 

[hafeezrocks]

World Cup 2026 awarded to USA, Mexico and Canada joint-bid at Fifa Congress on eve of 2018 tournamen

The United 2026 bid beat the one put together by Morocco

The United States, Canada and Mexico have won the right to host the 2026 World Cup after a vote of Fifa delegates in Moscow.

A joint bid by the three North American countries under the name ’United’ saw off the challenge of a rival proposal from Morocco, winning over two-thirds of the vote.
The United bid persuaded 134 of the 203 delegates present at the 68th annual Fifa congress, which was held on the eve of the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Morocco hoped to become the second African nation to host the tournament but earned just 65 votes on Wednesday and suffered defeat in a World Cup bidding process for the fifth time. One delegate, representing Iran, voted ‘none of the above’.


https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...ement-fifa-congress-2018-russia-a8396621.html

Congratulation NA Bros. The financial clout of USA is too hard to beat.

 

[Syed1]

My commute time would go up from 15 mins to atleast an hour or more....



Toronto cannot hold world events, I hope most of the matches are in the States.

 

[TM Riddle]

My commute time would go up from 15 mins to atleast an hour or more....



Toronto cannot hold world events, I hope most of the matches are in the States.

On the brighter side you would be able to watch live football wc matches in stadium which is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Not sure how popular it is in Canada though. I thought all Canadians did was to play that ice skating thing which they have gall to call hockey?

 

[Syed1]

On the brighter side you would be able to watch live football wc matches in stadium which is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Not sure how popular it is in Canada though. I thought all Canadians did was to play that ice skating thing which they have gall to call hockey?

I'd much rather fly to someplace like NYC and watch a one-off match such a semi or final rather than have my whole life turned upside down so that Nigeria and Saudi Arabia could play out a goal-less draw.



Also ice hockey is the best sport in the world.

 

[TM Riddle]

I'd much rather fly to someplace like NYC and watch a one-off match such a semi or final rather than have my whole life turned upside down so that Nigeria and Saudi Arabia could play out a goal-less draw.



Also ice hockey is the best sport in the world.

Pray that Egypt plays one of the games there and you get to watch the best player in the world, Mo Salah.

Don't be a angrez Syed.Sohail Abbas and Gagan Ajit Singh are the real hockey players and not those wannabe skaters with a lot of protection.

 

[FreakCricket]

My commute time would go up from 15 mins to atleast an hour or more....



Toronto cannot hold world events, I hope most of the matches are in the States.

Just curious for a Tier 3 city, why is it so badly designed when it comes to traffic ? I was there last year and traffic is stupid bad for a new modern city.

 

[kaayal]

My commute time would go up from 15 mins to atleast an hour or more....



Toronto cannot hold world events, I hope most of the matches are in the States.

You don’t know how lucky you are. Still you are complaining...

 

[Syed1]

You don’t know how lucky you are. Still you are complaining...

Bhen agar match acha ho tou lucky samjhoon naa.... Canada ko saray fazul walay matches milien gaye... bilawajah ki khuwari

 

[khan991]

I hope its in Toronto

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I don't like it when the world cup is held in non-football playing countries - which means Canada and the US basically. It's the equivalent of holding the cricket world cup in those countries, not appreciated by the host public. At least the games in Mexico should have a lively atmosphere.

 

[Slog]

I don't like it when the world cup is held in non-football playing countries - which means Canada and the US basically. It's the equivalent of holding the cricket world cup in those countries, not appreciated by the host public. At least the games in Mexico should have a lively atmosphere.

What constitutes a football country?

USA and Mexico regularly qualify for the World Cup. In fact if you look at record from last 25-30 years USA and Mexico have each played same or even more editions than some major European football countries like Netherlands

As for topic - Don't like joint World Cups

 

[Slog]

Bhen agar match acha ho tou lucky samjhoon naa.... Canada ko saray fazul walay matches milien gaye... bilawajah ki khuwari

On the bright side Canada will get to play in the World Cup for once so maybe there would be some excitement among locals

 

[Slog]

[MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] - Why do you think Canada has only ever qualified for one WC (98)? Is not having its own league a reason?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

What constitutes a football country?

USA and Mexico regularly qualify for the World Cup. In fact if you look at record from last 25-30 years USA and Mexico have each played same or even more editions than some major European football countries like Netherlands

As for topic - Don't like joint World Cups

A football country is one where the game is considered a major sport. In Mexico it is, in the US it was considered a girls alternative to American football as far as I'm aware. The last time the world cup was held in the US the stadiums were mostly filled by immigrant communities. Traditional Americans think real football is played with an egg shaped ball.

 

[CricketCartoons]

My commute time would go up from 15 mins to atleast an hour or more....



Toronto cannot hold world events, I hope most of the matches are in the States.

Bit premature to facepalm on what may happen to you 8 years from now.

 

[khan991]

All the stadiums in canada will be sold out. We have a MLS team toronto FC and its always sold out. Canada is full of immigrants and has people from all around the world.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Shame Morocco didn't get the vote but good luck to the host nations.

I will seriously consider using this opportunity to visit Canada.

 

[James]

On Twitter, Trump managed to not credit himself in any way for this latest North American achievement. For once!

 

[Mamoon]

I hope my dream of England hosting a World Cup is fulfilled one day.

 

[JaDed]

Pray that Egypt plays one of the games there and you get to watch the best player in the world, Mo Salah.

Don't be a angrez Syed.Sohail Abbas and Gagan Ajit Singh are the real hockey players and not those wannabe skaters with a lot of protection.

It's an amazing sport, not only it tests your hockey skills but has to be done with Skating.

I'm happy NE women have taken a liking to it.

 

[JaDed]

Football is becoming big here ,esp coz of all concussion issues in American one .
Was reading other day about how AMEIRCAN football grounds are being turned to soccer ones.
Although its still long way to go.

 

[Slog]

On Twitter, Trump managed to not credit himself in any way for this latest North American achievement. For once!

His base probably thinks that the sport is a Commie plot so he stayed away

 

[Pakistanian]

A football country is one where the game is considered a major sport. In Mexico it is, in the US it was considered a girls alternative to American football as far as I'm aware. The last time the world cup was held in the US the stadiums were mostly filled by immigrant communities. Traditional Americans think real football is played with an egg shaped ball.

That was in '94, most of us weren't alive back then. Soccer has grown a lot more in popularity and will only get more prominence by the 2026 world cup.

 

[Pakistanian]

[MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] - Why do you think Canada has only ever qualified for one WC (98)? Is not having its own league a reason?

They last qualified in '86 lol. Canadian cities are represented in the MLS and they also have their own league so that isn't an issue. The main reasons would be the extreme popularity of Ice Hockey in Canada, making it their primary sport and also Canadian football.

CFL is the Canadian version of the NFL.

 

[Pakistanian]

My commute time would go up from 15 mins to atleast an hour or more....



Toronto cannot hold world events, I hope most of the matches are in the States.

Lol Canada shouldn't host it. Vancouver won't be hosting any games cause they don't want to spend any money. Y'all don't deserve the world cup.

 

[boomboomcheema]

USA can't even qualify for the WC , hardly any passion for the Sport and yet gets the hosting rights.

All money talks.

They should have rather given full hosting rights to Mexico where people are extremely passionate about Football than in USA/Canada.

 

[Pakistanian]

USA can't even qualify for the WC , hardly any passion for the Sport and yet gets the hosting rights.

All money talks.

They should have rather given full hosting rights to Mexico where people are extremely passionate about Football than in USA/Canada.

We made every world cup from 1990 till 2014, made it to the quarters once as well. This world cup was the first one we missed in 3 decades, even Italy and Netherlands haven't qualified.

 

[James]

We made every world cup from 1990 till 2014, made it to the quarters once as well. This world cup was the first one we missed in 3 decades, even Italy and Netherlands haven't qualified.

Well said. Will be a great tournament.

 

[Slog]

USA can't even qualify for the WC , hardly any passion for the Sport and yet gets the hosting rights.

All money talks.

They should have rather given full hosting rights to Mexico where people are extremely passionate about Football than in USA/Canada.

Ignorant statement

USA made it to 7 consecutive world cups and made past group stage regularly.

Heavyweights such as Italy, Holland etc also have missed out on spots this year as well

Get educated!

 

[Smudger]

Hope some matches are in Vancouver also

 

[ahmedzee]

There will be 10 games in Canada, with Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto as venues.

Edmonton and Montreal already havefuy developed stadiums, while the BMO Field in Toronto has to be renovated. All in all, it would be great to watch all the 10 games here in Canada. Edmonton is only 3 hrs away drive for me and I usually visit Toronto a lot so no problem in seeing games in these two locations. I would even fly to the states for the semis and final. 2026, come already.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The biggest World Cup ever

The 2026 World Cup will last 10 more days than the 2022 edition in Qatar, and teams are likely to face a large amount of travel between games.

The shortest distance between a quarter-final and a semi-final venue is just over 500 miles from Kansas City to Dallas while the longest - between Los Angeles and Atlanta - is just under 2,200 miles.

Fifa says teams will have three days of rest for 103 of the tournament's record 104 matches.

The new format will feature 12 four-team groups and a last-32 knockout round for the first time.

The tournament hosts will play the group stage in their own countries, with the US staying on the West Coast with two games in LA and one in Seattle.

Canada will play one group stage game in Toronto followed by two in Vancouver while Mexico will play twice at the Azteca and once in Guadalajara.

 

[sweep_shot]

I feel like there are too many teams for 2026 World Cup. They should've kept it to 32 teams like it was in the previous World Cups.

 

[BouncerGuy]

48 teams and 104 matches. This is not just a World Cup, this has to be renamed as the Marathon World Cup. Too much traveling and such a long time to finish the tournament is not always handy when it comes to players' fitness.