The World Cup is returning to North America.
In a meeting on Wednesday, FIFA awarded the joint United Bid of Mexico, Canada, and the USA the men's 2026 World Cup.
Defeating a competing bid from Morocco, the United Bid won the final vote tally by FIFA's member nations 134-65. The 2026 World Cup will be the first time the three nations have hosted together, and the first time the World Cup has been played in North America since the 1994 edition in the US.
The World Cup tournament in 2026 will be the largest World Cup to date with 48 teams participating. The expanded tournament will feature a record 80 matches. Banc of California Stadium has been identified as a training site candidate for the tournament.
“The decision to host World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States is a testament to our three nations coming together for the United Bid, and a monumental step in our collective mission to further advance the game of soccer in North America,” read a statement from Major League Soccer.
“We congratulate all of those who worked tirelessly to bring the World Cup back to North America and thank the countries that voted for the United Bid, and for their belief in our vision for the future of the sport in our region," continued the MLS statement. "There is no doubt that World Cup 2026 will elevate the sport of soccer to entirely new levels and Major League Soccer is honored to be a part of this joyous day.”
