By Andrew Warshaw in Manama, Bahrain
May 10 – FIFA have decided to leave open the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup until August, rejecting an attempt by the United States, Canada and Mexico to fast-track their plans.
The three-nation bid remains the only proposal so far to host the 2026 event, but FIFA’s ruling council on Tuesday opted to give other possible bidders a further three months.
Media reports have suggested that Morocco, which has failed four times to get the nod, could join the race but they would almost certainly have to co-host with another north African nation to accommodate 48 nations under the expanded format which comes into effect in 2026.
It is understood the fast-track plan had met with some resistance among FIFA Council members though FIFA’s current rotation policy states that the continental confederation which held either of the previous two events cannot bid, ruling Europe and Asia out of the 2026 running.
Potential alternative bidders now have until August 11 to submit their interest with the vote scheduled for the 2018 FIFA congress in Moscow.
“For us, the most important thing was having an expedited process rather than a two or three year process and the council agreed with that,” said U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati, who sits on the FIFA Council. “We are happy to have competition because we are fully confident in the bid we can put together and the sort of World Cup we can put on.”
The FIFA council has also agreed on the slots for the 2026 finals as follows: Europe 16, Africa nine, Asia eight, South America six, CONCACAF six, Oceania one.
Two qualifiers will advance from a six-team mini-tournament in November 2025, with all confederations apart from UEFA represented. The host country will automatically qualify for the finals and that slot will be removed from its confederation’s quota.
If there are multiple hosts, the FIFA Council will decide how many qualify automatically.
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