On Tuesday, the United States, Canada, and Mexico announced their joint bid to host the World Cup in 2026. If successful, the bid would mark the first time that three nations hosted the tournament. It will also be the first time that the 48-team format, recently announced by FIFA, will be used.
"This is a milestone day for U.S. Soccer and for CONCACAF,” Sunil Gulati, the President of U.S Soccer, said at the joint press conference announcing the bid. “We gave careful consideration to the prospect of bidding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and ultimately feel strongly this is the right thing for our region and for our sport. Along with our partners from the Canadian Soccer Association and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, we are confident that we will submit an exemplary bid worthy of bringing the FIFA World Cup back to North America. The United States, Mexico and Canada have individually demonstrated their exceptional abilities to host world-class events. When our nations come together as one, as we will for 2026, there is no question the United States, Mexico and Canada will deliver an experience that will celebrate the game and serve players, supporters and partners alike.”
The United States, Canada, and Mexico all have a history of hosting important FIFA events at all levels of the sport. Most recently, the United States hosted Copa America Centenario in 2016, which featured 32 matches across 10 cities. They also hosted the 1994 World Cup, the Women’s World Cup in 1999, and the Women’s World Cup in 2003.
Canada most recently hosted the 2015 Women’s World Cup, one of the most successful tournaments in the history of the women’s game. In addition, they’ve hosted five other FIFA events, including the U-19 Women’s World Cup in 2002 and the U-20 World Cup in 2007. Mexico has hosted the World Cup twice, in 1970 and 1986. They were the first nation to win the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1999 and the U-17 World Cup in 2011 on home soil.
Each nation has a very different history when it comes to qualifying for the World Cup. Mexico has qualified for 15 World Cups, the United States has qualified for ten, including the last seven, and Canada has qualified for just one, when Mexico hosted in 1986. Currently, Mexico and the United States are battling it out in the Hex for one of the three World Cup qualifying spots in the region. The United States currently sits in 4th place, a rank that would lead them to play an inter-confederation game against an Asian team.
FIFA will announce the 2026 host in 2020.
