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UNITED STATES, CANADA AND MEXICO DECLARE INTENTION TO SUBMIT UNIFIED BID TO HOST 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP

THREE NATIONS HAVE COMBINED TO HOST 13 FIFA WORLD CUPS HAVING SET NUMEROUS RECORDS

NEW YORK (April 10, 2017) – CONCACAF member nations the United States, Canada and Mexico today declared their intention to formally submit a unified bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The historic unified bid, which would represent the first time that three nations would jointly host a FIFA competition, was announced by U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, CONCACAF and Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani, and Federación Mexicana de Fútbol president Decio de Maria at One World Observatory in New York on the 102nd and top floor of the One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

"This is a milestone day for U.S. Soccer and for CONCACAF,” Gulati said. “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 three nations have hosted 13 FIFA events combined (Men’s, Women’s and Youth World Cups and Confederations Cup), which is 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 States hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1994, to date the most successful in history for overall attendance. USA ’94 served as the catalyst to launch Major League Soccer in 1996, which today fields 19 teams in the U.S. and three in Canada. In addition, the USA welcomed the world for the 1999 and 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cups.

Mexico was the first nation to host the FIFA World Cup for the second time, having first held the event in 1970. In 1986, the Argentine team captained by Diego Maradona captured their second title in three tournaments. El Tri became the first host country to win the FIFA Confederations Cup, collecting the title on home soil in 1999. They repeated that feat at the youth level with a victory in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

“For the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, and the entire Mexican soccer family, it is a source of pride to be candidates, along with the United States and Canada, to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026,” de Maria said. “We have a unique opportunity to be the first country to host three World Cups. As such we are filled with pride and committed to make it the best ever. Mexico has been recognized for being a magnificent host of past FIFA events, such as the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, the 1999 Confederations Cup, the 2011 Under-17 World Cup, and most recently the 2016 FIFA Congress. If we are selected to host, it will be an honor to welcome everyone with open arms.”

tribe_pride wrote:Would all 3 get autobids to the World Cup if selected? That's insane though US and Mexico likely would be in anyway especially if they move up to 48 like they are talking about.

GannonFan wrote:Bid heavily favors the US, as it should (considering the athletic infrastructure already in place) - 60 of the 80 games would be slated for the US and every game from the quarterfinal on would be in the US. Should be a very tough bid to beat.

SDHornet wrote:

GannonFan wrote:Bid heavily favors the US, as it should (considering the athletic infrastructure already in place) - 60 of the 80 games would be slated for the US and every game from the quarterfinal on would be in the US. Should be a very tough bid to beat.

Yup. This should be a lock. No doubt Levi Stadium will get a game, I'll definitely be there.

93henfan wrote:

SDHornet wrote: Yup. This should be a lock. No doubt Levi Stadium will get a game, I'll definitely be there.

In green.

Don't throw any bags of piss at the US players, please.

CAA Flagship wrote:

93henfan wrote:
In green.

Don't throw any bags of piss at the US players, please.

SD, why are you wearing green?


And seriously, you need to stop throwing bags of piss.

And yet, because the stands are removed from the field, visiting players do not have the claustrophobic sense that spectators are perched on top of them. In addition, the Americans are not as vulnerable to thrown coins and bags of urine, which sometimes greet them

The fans on the lower level are separated from the field by barbed wire, and a moat. These barriers were put in to place to prevent rabid fans from running on to the field. The few American fans brave enough to make the trip are tucked away in to a small section in the upper deck surrounded on all sides by police in riot gear. Despite these security measures, Americans have in the past been beaten up, had bags of urine thrown at them, along with rocks, batteries and any other food or drink that local fans can get their hands on. During a 2004 Olympic qualifier, the Mexican fans even went so far as to chant “Osama, Osama” as dejected American players boarded their bus after a 4-0 loss.

Grizalltheway wrote:

tribe_pride wrote:Would all 3 get autobids to the World Cup if selected? That's insane though US and Mexico likely would be in anyway especially if they move up to 48 like they are talking about.

Probably the only way Canada gets in.

GannonFan wrote:Should be a very tough bid to beat.

89Hen wrote:

GannonFan wrote:Should be a very tough bid to beat.

Should be impossible to beat, but we are talking about FIFA. Might go to Burkina Faso or Palau.

89Hen wrote:

GannonFan wrote:Should be a very tough bid to beat.

Should be impossible to beat, but we are talking about FIFA. Might go to Burkina Faso or Palau.

93henfan wrote:

89Hen wrote: Should be impossible to beat, but we are talking about FIFA. Might go to Burkina Faso or Palau.

It's all about who can put together the best bribe package.

SDHornet wrote:

GannonFan wrote:Bid heavily favors the US, as it should (considering the athletic infrastructure already in place) - 60 of the 80 games would be slated for the US and every game from the quarterfinal on would be in the US. Should be a very tough bid to beat.

Yup. This should be a lock. No doubt Levi Stadium will get a game, I'll definitely be there.

Grizalltheway wrote:How exactly do you market this? World Cup North America '26? World Cup-NAFTA Edition?

Grizalltheway wrote:How exactly do you market this? World Cup North America '26? World Cup-NAFTA Edition?

93henfan wrote:

SDHornet wrote: Yup. This should be a lock. No doubt Levi Stadium will get a game, I'll definitely be there.

In green.

Don't throw any bags of piss at the US players, please.

93henfan wrote:

89Hen wrote: Should be impossible to beat, but we are talking about FIFA. Might go to Burkina Faso or Palau.

It's all about who can put together the best bribe package.

Skjellyfetti wrote:

UNITED STATES, CANADA AND MEXICO DECLARE INTENTION TO SUBMIT UNIFIED BID TO HOST 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP

THREE NATIONS HAVE COMBINED TO HOST 13 FIFA WORLD CUPS HAVING SET NUMEROUS RECORDS

NEW YORK (April 10, 2017) – CONCACAF member nations the United States, Canada and Mexico today declared their intention to formally submit a unified bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The historic unified bid, which would represent the first time that three nations would jointly host a FIFA competition, was announced by U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, CONCACAF and Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani, and Federación Mexicana de Fútbol president Decio de Maria at One World Observatory in New York on the 102nd and top floor of the One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

"This is a milestone day for U.S. Soccer and for CONCACAF,” Gulati said. “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 three nations have hosted 13 FIFA events combined (Men’s, Women’s and Youth World Cups and Confederations Cup), which is 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 States hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1994, to date the most successful in history for overall attendance. USA ’94 served as the catalyst to launch Major League Soccer in 1996, which today fields 19 teams in the U.S. and three in Canada. In addition, the USA welcomed the world for the 1999 and 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cups.

Mexico was the first nation to host the FIFA World Cup for the second time, having first held the event in 1970. In 1986, the Argentine team captained by Diego Maradona captured their second title in three tournaments. El Tri became the first host country to win the FIFA Confederations Cup, collecting the title on home soil in 1999. They repeated that feat at the youth level with a victory in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

“For the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, and the entire Mexican soccer family, it is a source of pride to be candidates, along with the United States and Canada, to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026,” de Maria said. “We have a unique opportunity to be the first country to host three World Cups. As such we are filled with pride and committed to make it the best ever. Mexico has been recognized for being a magnificent host of past FIFA events, such as the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, the 1999 Confederations Cup, the 2011 Under-17 World Cup, and most recently the 2016 FIFA Congress. If we are selected to host, it will be an honor to welcome everyone with open arms.”

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/04 ... -world-cup