The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will be staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States after the joint bidders beat Morocco in the vote at FIFA congress.
The 68th FIFA Congress convened in Moscow and designated the three countries as the hosts of football’s most prestigious tournament, which by then will be played with 48 teams.
The United 2026 bid received 134 of 200 votes cast, or 67 per cent. Morocco tallied 65 votes (33 per cent), and one single member association voted not to choose either of the two bids.
Having lost out for the fifth time to host the tournament the Chairman of Morocco’s bid committee, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, said: “Morocco is proud to have led a campaign that was committed, ethical and totally in keeping to the rules imposed by FIFA.
“Through this bid, Morocco has demonstrated its ability to organise the FIFA World Cup, which in 2026 for the first time will see the participation of 48 teams, meeting the new demanding specifications of FIFA.
“Under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty The King, the Kingdom of Morocco is determined to continue on its current trajectory. The projects that we have presented in the Bid Book will be realised. We managed this Bid with a sporting spirit and we will continue our path in the same vein.”
The President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, said: “Morocco is pleased to have presented a solid bid where football is at the centre of an authentic, profitable FIFA World Cup with a strong legacy.
“On behalf of the FRMF I wish to congratulate my colleagues – the Presidents of the USA, Mexico, and Canada Football Associations – and I wish them all the best in organising the FIFA World Cup and furthering the path of development of football.
“I also wish to congratulate FIFA for the conduct of this Bid process and President Infantino for all that has been done to make things move towards more transparency and inclusion and I want to reaffirm the commitment of my country to continue to work for football.”
The joint hosting of the World Cup by the US, Canada and Mexico is expected to generate a profit in excess of $11bn for the expanded 48-team, 80-match tournament in 2026.
In a statement released immediately after the decision, US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro said: “Hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a rare and important moment to demonstrate that we are all truly united through sport.
“We are humbled by the trust our colleagues in the FIFA family have put in our bid; strengthened by the unity between our three countries and the CONCACAF region; and excited by the opportunity we have to put football on a new and sustainable path for generations to come.”
Steven Reed, president of Canada Soccer, echoed the sentiment, stating: “Hosting a FIFA World Cup is an extraordinary honor and privilege.
“Canada, Mexico, and the United States are ready to welcome the world to North America and serve as stewards of the largest FIFA World Cup in history. Our vision is of a world of opportunity for our candidate host cities and for the global football community.”
The 69th FIFA Congress is scheduled for 5 June 2019, in Paris, on the eve of the opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Image: PA Images
