Canada soccer – CHICAGO (August 11, 2017) – The United Bid of Canada, Mexico and the United States will be competing against Morocco for the opportunity to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ after FIFA announced earlier today that the African country has officially submitted their intention to participate in process. The deadline for Member Associations to inform FIFA of their intention to bid was today.
 
“Canada will continue to collaborate with our partners in Mexico and the United States to put forth a world class bid that will demonstrate to FIFA that the United Bid of Canada, Mexico and the United States is the right choice to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup™,” said Steven Reed, President, Canada Soccer.
 
“We’ve always been prepared for the fact that other countries could also decide to bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™,” said United Bid Committee Chair, Sunil Gulati. “Competition is good, and overall it shows the value and importance of the FIFA World Cup™. We’re excited to prepare a bid that will demonstrate to FIFA that the first FIFA World Cup™ to be held in the CONCACAF region since 1994 should be awarded to Canada, Mexico and the United States.”
 
All bidders must now submit their proposal for consideration by FIFA by the deadline of March 16, 2018. A decision on whether to select one of the bidders will be taken at the FIFA Congress to be convened next June.
 
Canada, Mexico and the United States have hosted a combined 13 FIFA World Cups (men, women and youth), more than any other trio of geographically-connected nations, and set attendance records for five of those events. The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will be the first with the expanded 48-team format, requiring facilities and infrastructure that these countries are uniquely suited to fulfill.
 
The United Bid Committee kicked off its efforts in July by announcing the Board of Directors and the executive leadership team that includes Executive Director John Kristick, Managing Director of Technical Operations Jim Brown, Canada Bid Director Peter Montopoli, who is the Canada Soccer General Secretary, and Mexico Bid Director Yon De Luisa, who is a Televisa Vice President.
 
The United Bid Committee’s Board of Directors includes Sunil Gulati (Chairman), Steven Reed (Canada), Peter Montopoli (Canada), Decio De Maria (Mexico), Guillermo Cantu (Mexico), Carlos Cordeiro (USA), Donna Shalala (USA), Dan Flynn (USA), Don Garber (USA), Carlos Bocanegra (USA), Julie Foudy (USA), Ed Foster-Simeon (USA) and Victor Montagliani (CONCACAF). Legendary sports executive Robert Kraft has been appointed as Honorary Chairman of the Board.
 
Contact Information:
Neil Buethe (USA)
Tel: +1 (312) 528-1270
Email: nbuethe@ussoccer.org
 
Sandra Gage (Canada)
Tel: +1 (613) 894-8541
Email: sgage@canadasoccer.com
 
Israel Márquez (Mexico)
Tel: +52 1 (55) 38528119
Email: imarquez@fmf.mx