United States Canada Mexico Submit Joint Bid To Host FIFA 2026 World Cup

While U.S. President Donald Trump is in favor of building walls and creating divides not only among Americans, but also the North American continent, the soccer world has other ideas. The United States, Canada, and Mexico are combining forces and resources in a joint bid, referred to as the United Bid, in an effort to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The bid was submitted to FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, on Friday in Zurich. The United Bid projects 5.8 million tickets to be sold for the event, generating $2.1 billion in revenue.

The United Bid also submitted 23 potential host cities throughout the three nations, including New York City, for FIFA to parse down to its final host cities (up to 16 can be chosen) for the tournament. Unlike prior host nations, the facilities available in the United States, Canada, and Mexico don’t require new stadium construction should it win the bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to expand to a 48-team format.

“Canada, Mexico, and the United States have joined together to deliver a United Bid that offers FIFA and its member associations the power of unity, the promise of certainty, and the potential of extraordinary opportunity,” John Kristick, Executive Director of the United Bid, said in a press release. “We are confident that the combination of our 23 existing world-class stadiums, 150 existing elite training facilities, and our modern and interconnected transportation network can help FIFA to achieve new records for attendance and revenue, which will allow the entire global football community to improve and grow.”

Not having to spend money on a new infrastructure in order to host the World Cup is certainly a major positive for the United Bid. Russia, host of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has spent more than $10 billion building stadiums and upping its infrastructure in order to prepare for soccer’s grandest event this summer.

Should the United Bid be granted hosting responsibilities for the 2026 World Cup, it would be only the second time in the tournament’s history that more than one nation hosted a singular event; Japan and South Korea jointly played host during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

The United States and Mexico have prior experience hosting the World Cup, which began in 1930 — Mexico was host in 1970 and 1986, while the U.S. hosted in 1994.

Russia will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, while Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

About the author

Michael LoRé

Sports Editor

Michael has been obsessed with sports since he started playing recreationally when he was 5 years old. Realizing he couldn't make it as a professional athlete and was a decent enough writer, the lightbulb went off: sports journalist. After honing his craft at the University of Delaware, Michael has covered anything and everything from scholastic field hockey to the World Series. Born and raised in New Jersey, Michael now lives in New York City, having worked most recently for New York City FC and the NHL. His favorite sport is soccer.