If the 2022 World Cup in Qatar goes ahead as scheduled, North America will be overdue to host the World Cup and the favorite to win a bid for the 2026 tournament. And instead of picking a country to get behind, CONCACAF is making a joint bid: the United States, Mexico, and Canada hosting the World Cup together.
United States will bid for 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada
A North American bid will be the favorite with FIFA when it comes time to vote.
“Canada, the U.S., and Mexico are aiming for a joint bid, the idea has been around for a while, discussions are continuing and it is a very exciting proposition if it comes to fruition,” CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani said in The Guardian. “We have had nothing but positive remarks about it and it is a very strong sign of what football can do to bring countries together.”
The idea of spreading a tournament around to three countries to avoid white elephants makes sense. When one country is asked to bear the burden of hosting an event like the World Cup by itself, it’s often difficult to get everything done on time and on budget, while communities don’t always get much for their money. By splitting the tournament between three countries, FIFA and CONCACAF spread out the cost and the risk.
If CONCACAF and the three national federations follow through with this idea and FIFA likes it, expect some modifications to the proposed 2026 World Cup bid structure. It would be ridiculous to have eight or nine CONCACAF teams at the World Cup.
Goal of the day
In the news
The USWNT has a new CBA with US Soccer, and it’s a win for mid-level players outside of the national team structure too.
Here are the 22 national team players allocated to NWSL this season. (Stars and Stripes FC)
James Rodriguez is mad at Zinedine Zidane for rarely getting a full game. (AS)
A referee incorrectly called off a penalty for Newcastle and won’t be officiating at the highest level for a bit. (BBC)
You should be reading
Jim Weeks on failed mergers of clubs in England. (Vice)
Nick Wells on the Vancouver Southsiders, who refuse to go to away games in America due to the White House’s travel ban. (In Bed With Maradona)
Ted Knutson on Arsenal not being the same old Arsenal, but actually worse. (Stats bomb)
What happened on Wednesday
Chelsea beat Manchester City and Eden Hazard was rude to John Stones.
Tottenham pulled off a late comeback win over Swansea. (Cartilage Free Captain)
Liverpool threw away a lead and dropped points against Bournemouth. (Liverpool Offside)
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