2026 FIFA World Cup bidding process: FIFA receives expressions of interest - FIFA WORLD CUP
 |
| Getty Images |
On 11 May 2017, the 67th FIFA Congress approved a timeline for the next steps of the bidding process that will select the host(s) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™. According to the approved motion, Member Associations from CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and the OFC had three months – until 11 August 2017 – to express their interest in hosting the tournament.
Before the passing of the above deadline, FIFA received:
- a joint expression of interest submitted by the Canadian Soccer Association, the Mexican Football Association and the United States Soccer Federation
- an expression of interest submitted by the Moroccan Football Association
The interested Member Associations will now move on to officially register their bids and agree to the terms and conditions of the enhanced bidding process that will select the venue of the first FIFA World Cup to be played with 48 teams. The next steps in this process are:
- FIFA to issue the bidding registration documents for the Member Associations to fill in
- FIFA to issue bidding documents so that the Member Associations may commence their preparations
- Member Associations to submit their bid book to FIFA by March 2018
- FIFA to carry out an evaluation process, which will result in a report
- Based on this report, the FIFA Council to designate the bids to be submitted to the FIFA Congress for a final decision
Finally, the decision on whether to select one of the above bidders to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be taken by the 68th FIFA Congress, which will convene in Moscow on 13 June next year, on the eve of the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.