2026 FIFA World Cup

2026 FIFA World Cup
Tournament details
Teams 32 (expected) (from 5 or 6 confederations)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd FIFA World Cup, an international association football tournament that is scheduled to take place in 2026. The tournament will involve 32 national teams, including that of the host nation, assuming the current format of the finals is maintained, but there have been suggestions to expand the tournament to 40 teams.[1][2]

The bidding process will start in 2015, with the appointment of hosts planned for the FIFA Congress in May 2017.[3]

Host selection

Map of the World with the six confederations

FIFA's current policy is that any country may bid for a World Cup, provided that their continental confederation has not hosted either of the previous two World Cups. For the 2026 World Cup, this means that bids from

     UEFA – Union of European Football Associations (Russia 2018) and
     AFC – Asian Football Confederation (Qatar 2022)

are not allowed.[4][5]
This is a change from FIFA's previous continental rotation policy, implemented after bidding for the 2006 World Cup, that had ensured that Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup and South America hosted the 2014 World Cup. Respectively the 2026 World Cup will be hosted by one of the following continental confederations:

     CAF – Confederation of African Football
     CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football
     CONMEBOL – Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol
     OFC – Oceania Football Confederation

FIFA will allow joint bids for the 2026 World Cup, as long as the bid has only one organizing committee. The Korea/Japan World Cup bid in 2002 had two different organizing committees, leading FIFA to ban joint bids after the 2002 World Cup.[6]

Confirmed interest in bidding

Given FIFA's current continental rotation policy, the 2026 World Cup will be hosted by a country from one of three continents — North America (last hosted in 1994), Africa (last hosted in 2010), or South America (last hosted in 2014).

North America

In July 2012, Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani confirmed plans for a Canadian bid, saying: "We have verbally told FIFA that when the bid process begins for the next available World Cup, which would be the 2026 World Cup, that the CSA will be one of the countries putting in a formal proposal".[7] At the time the bid was announced, Canada had hosted the men's 1987 Under-16 World Championship and the U-20 World Cups for both men and women; the country has since hosted the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and is set to host the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015. In October 2013, Montagliani confirmed Canada's intention to bid for the 2026 tournament.[8] On January 23, 2014, the Canadian Soccer Association confirmed that it is bidding for the 2026 World Cup.[9]
In September 2012, Mexican Football Federation President Justino Compeán confirmed plans for a Mexican bid.[10] Mexico has hosted two previous World Cups in 1970 and 1986. In October 2013, Liga MX President said that Mexico is interested in joining forces with the U.S. to co-host a bid for the 2026 World Cup.[11] On December 9, 2014, the Mexican Football Federation confirmed that it is bidding for the 2026 World Cup.[12]

South America

In March 2010, Colombian President Álvaro Uribe confirmed plans for a Colombian bid.[13] At the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup final, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said "Colombia is ready for a World Cup".[14] Colombia was chosen to host the 1986 FIFA World Cup in 1974, but due to financial problems, was later awarded to Mexico in 1983. The country has since hosted the 2011 Under-20 World Cup and World Games 2013, and will host the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup. In July 2010, Peru also suggested co-hosting with Colombia and Ecuador, and President Uribe reacted positively, saying "every positive proposition has to be welcomed."[15][16] The bid would also form part of the countries National Development Plan.[17] On March 8 2015, Senator Jorge Espinoza called on President Juan Manuel Santos to begin a "diplomatic offensive" for the bidding process for their right to host the 2026 edition.[18]

Potential bids

Then minister of Youth and Sports, Moncef Belkhayat, said to the French daily Le Figaro: "The African Cup of Nations 2015 will be the first indicator of our ability to host a great event. Then we can confidently consider us as a candidate to host the World Cup 2026".[19][20] However, in November 2014, Morocco refused to host the African Cup of Nations due to the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa. Morocco previously bid for the FIFA World Cup in 1994, 1998, 2006, and 2010, but lost to the United States, France, Germany, and South Africa respectively. Casablanca, Morocco is currently (and is expected) to bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics as the first African and Arab host nation.
United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati stated the United States will only seriously consider bidding for the 2026 World Cup if the bidding process is more transparent and fair.[21] During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke said that he felt there was interest in the United States for hosting the 2026 Cup.[22] FIFA President Sepp Blatter said, “Perhaps there’s a big commercial opportunity arising now in the United States because of the tremendous television audiences that are booming and that the World Cup has also encouraged in its domestic game as well. We did well with football when it first went to the United States but the opportunities are bigger now."[23] The United States hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup and last bid for the 2022 World Cup, which was ultimately awarded to Qatar in 2010. In April 2015, Brazilian icon Pele stated that the US should host the 2026 World Cup.[24]

Ineligible to bid

On 13 December 2014, Adilbek Zhaksybekov announced a possible bid from Kazakhstan. However, no country from UEFA can bid for the 2026 World Cup under current bidding rules, as the 2018 World Cup will have been held in Russia. The next World Cup a UEFA country can host is in 2030.[25][26]
On 24 March 2015, Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Dyke announced a possible bid for the 2026 World Cup, however this was dependant on whether Sepp Blatter remains the chairman of FIFA. Dyke declared that "we don't bid while Mr Blatter's there".[27] This is due to England losing out to Russia for the right to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, in what Dyke called a corrupt bidding process, stating that "I don't think it [FIFA] is a straight organisation and hasn't been for many years."[28] England last hosted the 1966 FIFA World Cup. However, England, like all other European countries, cannot bid for the 2026 World Cup under current bidding rules because another UEFA-affiliated European country, Russia, will be hosting in 2018. The next World Cup a UEFA-affiliated country can host is in 2030.
On 13 April 2015, former New Zealand Cricket CEO and head of the Tourism Industry Association NZ, Martin Snedden proposed a possible New Zealand and Australia joint bid for either the 2026 or 2030 FIFA World Cup. However, although OFC-affiliated New Zealand is eligible to host a World Cup in 2026, the AFC-affiliated Australia would not be.
Snedden’s vision was for both the Asian Football Confederation and Oceania Football Confederation working together to achieve the event. Snedden recognized there would be plenty of hurdles to leap. On the idea of a potential bid, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said the decision on such a bid would be "a long way away".[29]

Broadcasting rights

FIFA has come in for criticism for the way Fox was awarded the rights: there was no tender process, the network receiving the rights in order to placate it regarding the move of the 2022 World Cup (which it has the rights to) from summer to winter time. Due to the lack of a tender, FIFA lost revenue. According to the BBC's sports editor Dan Roan, "As ever, it seemed, FIFA was looking after itself."[33]

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Michel Platini calls for 40-team World Cup starting with Russia 2018". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "BBC Sport - Michel Platini's World Cup expansion plan unlikely - Fifa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "2022 FIFA World Cup to be played in November/December". FIFA.com. 20 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Rotation ends in 2018". FIFA.com – News Centre. 2007-10-29.
  5. ↑ "Fifa abandons World Cup rotation". BBC SPORT. 2007-10-29.
  6. ↑ "Blatter: There's indescribable anticipation". FIFA. 2010-06-07.
  7. ↑ "Canadian Soccer Association to bid for 2026 World Cup". CBC, Ben Rycroft. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "The race is on: Canada continues to plan on bid for 2026 World Cup". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "Canada to bid for 2026 FIFA World Cup". CBC. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Mexico to bid for 2026 World Cup". ESPN, Press Association. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "Report: Mexico would team up with USA to host 2026 World Cup tournament". MLS Soccer.
  12. ↑ "Buscará México la sede del Mundial 2026". Milenio. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Colombia quiere organizar un Mundial".
  14. ↑ "Colombia está preparada para una Copa Mundial de mayores, dijo Blatter".
  15. ↑ Roorda, Jonathan (July 14, 2010). "Peru wants to host World Cup with Colombia and Ecuador". Colombia Reports. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Peru aims to co-host 2026 World Cup with Ecuador, Colombia". Andina. July 13, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Presentan en el Senado propuesta para que Colombia sea sede del Mundial 2026" (in Spanish). El Nuevo Dia. 2015-03-04. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
  18. ↑ http://www.bnamericas.com/news/infrastructure/colombian-senator-calls-on-country-to-step-up-campaign-for-2026-world-cup1
  19. ↑ "Le Maroc veut organiser la Coupe du monde en 2026". Le Figaro, Guillaume Errard. 24 March 2011.
  20. ↑ "المغرب يترشح لتنظيم مونديال 2026". Eurosport, Hamad Mousa. 2013-09-05.
  21. ↑ "Sunil Gulati says US Soccer will bid to host 2026 World Cup if FIFA clarifies process". New England Sports Network. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  22. ↑ "FIFA leaders reveal that USA could make bid for 2026 World Cup". Fox Sports. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  23. ↑ "FIFA President Sepp Blatter says 2026 World Cup probably should be in the United States". The Washington Post. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  24. ↑ "Pelé: US deserves World Cup", New York Post, April 18, 2015.
  25. ↑ DPA (13 December 2014). "Kazajistán quiere albergar el Mundial de 2026". Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "Kazakhstan eyes bid for 2026 World Cup". Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  27. ↑ "England could consider 2026 World Cup bid - Greg Dyke". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  28. ↑ Corless, Liam (24 March 2015). "Greg Dyke: England will consider bid to host 2026 World Cup - but only if Sepp Blatter is gone". Irish Mirror. Irish Mirror. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  29. ↑ "NZ's plan to host a FIFA World Cup (with Oz!)". socceroos.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  30. ↑ Sandomir, Richard. "Fox, Telemundo and Univision to Show World Cup Through 2026 as FIFA Extends Contracts". The New York Times. February 12, 2015.
  31. ↑ "FIFA extending TV deals through 2026 World Cup with CTV, TSN and RDS". The Globe and Mail. February 12, 2015.
  32. ↑ Parker, Ryan. "2026 World Cup TV rights awarded without bids; ESPN 'surprised'". Los Angeles Times. February 13, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Qatar 2022: World Cup fall-out could tear football apart". BBC. Retrieved 25 February 2015.