| Tourney Name: | FIFA World Cup bid |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Other Titles: | United 2026 Canada–United States–Mexico 2026 |
| Country: | Canada |
| Country2: | United States |
| Country3: | Mexico |
| Venues: | 16 (selected from a proposal of 23) |
| Cities: | 16 |
| Prevseason: | 2022 |
| Nextseason: | 2030 |
United 2026, also known as the North American 2026 bid, was a successful joint bid led by the United States Soccer Federation, together with the Canadian Soccer Association and the Mexican Football Federation, to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
While the soccer federations of Canada, Mexico, and the United States had individually announced plans to field a bid for the 2026 World Cup, the concept of a joint bid among the three North American countries was first proposed in 2016. The joint bid was officially unveiled on April 10, 2017, under which the tournament would be held at venues in all three countries. A shortlist of 23 candidate cities were named in the official bid, with 17 in the U.S., 3 in Canada, and 3 in Mexico. Ten U.S. candidate cities will join three Canadian candidate cities, and three Mexican candidate cities, to form the roster of 16 cities that will host the matches of this World Cup. Although a joint bid, the majority of the matches will be held in the United States. Canada and Mexico will host 10 matches each, while the United States will host the other 60, including all matches from the quarterfinals onward.[1]
On June 13, 2018, at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow, Russia, the United bid was selected by 134 votes to Morocco's 65.[2] Upon this selection, Canada will become the fifth country to host both the men's and women's World Cup, joining Sweden, the United States, Germany, and France. Mexico will become the first country to host three men's World Cups, and the United States will become the first country to host both the men's and women's World Cup twice each. This will be the first World Cup to be hosted in three countries, as well as the first since 2002 and the second overall to be held in multiple countries.
The three soccer federations of Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. announced interest in submitting a bid for the 2026 World Cup years before the federations intended to unify their efforts.
In July 2012, Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani confirmed plans for a Canadian bid, saying: "We have verbally told FIFA that when the bid process begins for the next available World Cup, which would be the 2026 World Cup, that the CSA will be one of the countries putting in a formal proposal".[3] At the time the bid was announced, Canada had hosted the men's 1987 Under-16 World Championship and the U-20 World Cups for both men and women; the country has since hosted the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015. In October 2013, Montagliani confirmed Canada's intention to bid for the 2026 tournament[4] and the Canadian Soccer Association reiterated this in January 2014.[5]
In September 2012, Mexican Football Federation (FMF) President Justino Compeán confirmed plans for a Mexican bid.[6] In October 2013, Liga MX President said that Mexico was interested in joining forces with the U.S. to co-host a bid for the 2026 World Cup.[7] On December 9, 2014, FMF confirmed that it was bidding for the 2026 World Cup.[8]
On May 13, 2016, at the FIFA Congress in Mexico City, USSF board member John Motta told ESPN "whatever happens, we will bid for the 2026 World Cup -- either jointly (with Mexico or Canada) or we will go it alone."[9] The United States hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup and unsuccessfully bid for the 2022 World Cup, which was won by Qatar in 2010. On April 18, 2015, Brazilian legend Pelé stated that the United States should host the 2026 World Cup.[10]
In December 2016 Victor Montagliani, CONCACAF president announced for the first time a possibility of a joint bid between the United States, Canada, and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup.[11]
On April 10, 2017, the three bodies officially announced their intent to submit a joint bid for the 2026 World Cup.[12]
See main article: 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bidding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was postponed due to the 2015 FIFA corruption case and the subsequent resignation of Sepp Blatter,[13] then was restarted following the FIFA Council meeting on May 10, 2016, wherein the bidding process would consist of four phases:[14]
With no rival bid having emerged since April 2017 the CONCACAF member federations of Canada, Mexico, and the United States sent a joint request to FIFA to hasten the bid process. Canada, Mexico, and the United States wanted FIFA to award the bid outside the traditional bidding process at the June 2018 FIFA Congress in Moscow if the CONCACAF-bid meets FIFA requirements.[16] [17]
However the FIFA Council decided on May 8, 2017, that FIFA would have a full bidding procedure. In order to ensure continental rotation of hosting duties, only the member associations of CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, and the OFC were invited, as these continental confederations had not hosted the two previous World Cups.[18] A date of August 11, 2017, was set for submission of an intention to bid.[19]
Together, Canada, Mexico, and the United States have hosted 13 FIFA events, which is the most of any trio of geographically connected nations.[20]
In addition, all three countries have hosted at least one Olympic football tournament. Canada played host in Montreal 1976, Mexico in Mexico City 1968, and the United States hosted twice – in Los Angeles 1984 and Atlanta 1996. The Atlanta Games were the first to include a women's tournament.
On July 6, 2017, a United Bid Committee was officially formed by the national federations of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, to kick off the bidding process to bring the 2026 World Cup to North America.[21] [22] [23] [24] [25]
Honorary chairman of the board
National Football League and Major League Soccer executive and owner[26]
United bid committee board of directors
United bid committee executive team
On August 15, 2017, the United Bid Committee released a list of 49 stadiums in 44 metropolitan markets across the three nations which will be considered for the official bid.[29] The United Bid Committee planned to include 20–25 venues in the official bid, which was sent to FIFA in March 2018. Stadiums must have a capacity of at least 40,000 for group-round matches and at least 80,000 for the opening match and the final.
On September 7, 2017, the United Bid Committee announced that a total of 41 cities (with 44 venues) had submitted bids marking their official declaration of interest to be included in the final bid:[30] Almost a month later, on October 4, 2017, the list of cities was cut down to 32 with 35 venues.[31] During U.S. Soccer's annual general meeting in Orlando in February 2018, Gulati revealed that the list of cities had been cut down to 26 with 29 venues.[32]
On March 14, 2018, Vancouver, Minneapolis and Chicago all announced that they were dropping out as potential host cities. All three cities cited concerns over the financial transparency of being a host city and cited FIFA's unwillingness to negotiate financial details as reasons for their decisions; the bid committee announced the next day they had reduced the number of cities in the bid to 23.[33] [34] [35] [36]
Cities had to submit written proposals to the United Bid Committee by January 19, 2018, before being selected by the committee.[37]
The official bid has proposed the main opening match be held in either the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City or at the Rose Bowl in the Los Angeles area, that all three host countries' teams would host their first matches on the first day of the tournament and that the final match be held at MetLife Stadium in the New York City area. The bid also proposed that the two semi-final matches would be held at AT&T Stadium in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. All of the other cities in the American portion of the bid are under consideration for quarter-final matches. The bid book proposal calls for Mexico and Canada to each host seven group-stage games, two matches in the round of 32, and one in the round of 16.[38]
A denotes stadium used for previous men's World Cup tournaments
A denotes an indoor stadium
| Vancouver, British Columbia[39] | Toronto, Ontario | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Place | BMO Field | ||
| Capacity: 54,000 | Capacity: 30,000 (Expanding to 45,500 for tournament) | ||
| Mexico City | UANL, México | Monterrey, Nuevo León | UNAM,México | Guadalajara, Jalisco | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estadio Azteca | Estadio Universitario | Estadio BBVA | Estadio Olìmpico Universitario | Estadio Akron | |
| Capacity: 87,523 | Capacity: 23,445 | Capacity: 53,500 (Bid book capacity: 53,460) | Capacity: 64,356(Bid Book capacity: 43,569) | Capacity: 46,232 (Bid book capacity: 48,071) | |
| Mexico City | Atlas, Mexico | San Luis,City | |||
| Estadio Ciudad de Los Deporttes | Estadio Jalisco | Estadio Alfonso Lastras | |||
| Capacity: 12,347 | Capacity: 23,145 | Capacity: 22,134 | |||
| Cruz, Mexico | Juárez, México | Mazatlàn, Mexico | |||
| Estadio Azteca | Estadio Olìmpico Benito Jurárez | Estadio De Mazatlàn | |||
| Capacity: 08,335 | Capactiy:32,145 | Capacity: 24,135 | |||
| Necaxa, México | Pachuca, México | Puebla, Mexico | |||
| Estadio Victoria | Estadio Hidalgo | Estadio Cuathèmoc | |||
| Capacity: 23,145 | Capacity: 23,121 | Capacity: 3,345 | |||
| Santos.Mexico | Tijuana, Mexico | Toluca, Mexico City | |||
| Estadio Corona | Estadio Celiente | Estadio Nemesio Dìez | |||
| Capacity: 24,137 | Capacity:24,553 | Capacuty: 25,154 | |||
| New York/New Jersey | Dallas, Texas | Kansas City, Missouri | Houston, Texas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) | AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) | Arrowhead Stadium | NRG Stadium | |
| Capacity: 82,500 (Bid book capacity: 87,157) | Capacity: 80,000 (Bid book capacity: 92,967) (expandable to 105,000) | Capacity: 76,416 (Bid book capacity: 76,640) | Capacity: 72,220 | |
| Atlanta, Georgia | Los Angeles, California | |||
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium | SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) | |||
| Capacity: 71,000 (Bid book capacity: 75,000) (expandable to 83,000) | Capacity: 70,240 (expandable to 100,240) | |||
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | St. Louis, Missouri | |||
| Lincoln Financial Field | City Park Stadium | |||
| Capacity: 69,796 (Bid book capacity: 69,328) | Capacity: 43,643(Bid book capacity: 32,479) | |||
| City Park Stadium | ||||
| Seattle, Washington | San Francisco Bay Area | Boston, Massachusetts | Miami, Florida | |
| Lumen Field | Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California) | Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida) | |
| Capacity: 69,000 (expandable to 72,000) | Capacity: 68,500 (Bid book capacity: 70,909) (expandable to 75,000) | Capacity: 65,878 (Bid book capacity: 70,000) | Capacity: 64,767 (Bid book capacity: 67,518) | |
| City | Venue | Year opened | Tenants | Major sporting events hosted | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | BMO Field | 2007 (Expanded 2015) | Toronto FC (MLS) (2007–present) Toronto Nationals (MLL) (2009) Toronto Argonauts (CFL) (2016–present)[41] Toronto FC II (USL1) (2018) | 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup venue 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup venue 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup venue 2015 Pan American Games Rugby Sevens venue 104th Grey Cup venue MLS Cup 2010 venue MLS Cup 2016 venue MLS Cup 2017 venue 2018 CONCACAF Champions League Finals first leg venue | |
| Vancouver | BC Place | 1983 (Renovated 2009, 2011) | BC Lions (CFL) (1983–present) Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) (2011–present) Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL) (1983–1984) Vancouver Nighthawks (WBL) (1988) | 9-time Grey Cup venue 1990 Gay Games 2010 Winter Olympics host stadium 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup venue and final venue Annual Canada Sevens venue |
| City | Venue | Year opened | Tenants | Major sporting events hosted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalajara | Estadio Akron | 2010 | Guadalajara (2010–present) | 2010 Copa Libertadores Finals venue 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup venue 2011 Pan American Games host stadium |
| Mexico City | Estadio Azteca | 1966 (Renovated 1986, 1999, 2013 and 2016) | Mexico national football team (1966–present) América (1966–present) Necaxa (1966–1970, 1982–2003) Atlante (1966–1982, 1996–2001, 2004–2007) UNAM (1967–1969) Atlético Español (1970–1982) Cruz Azul (1971–1996, 2018–present) | 1970 FIFA World Cup venue and final venue (Capacity: 108,000) 1986 FIFA World Cup venue and final venue (Capacity: 114,600) 1968 Summer Olympics soccer venue 1975 Pan American Games venue 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship venue 1985 Mexico City Cup / Azteca 2000 venue 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup venue 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup venue 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup venue 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup venue |
| Monterrey | Estadio BBVA Bancomer | 2015 | Monterrey (2015–present) | |
| Chicago, Illinois | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Montreal, Quebec[42] | Washington, D.C. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier Field | U.S. Bank Stadium | Olympic Stadium | FedExField (Landover, Maryland) | |
| Capacity: 61,500 | Capacity: 66,655 (expandable to 73,000) | Capacity: 61,004 (Bid book capacity: 55,822) (Expandable to 73,000) | Capacity: 82,000 (Bid book capacity: 70,249) (expandable to 91,704) | |
| Baltimore, Maryland | Cincinnati, Ohio | Denver, Colorado | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M&T Bank Stadium | Paycor Stadium | Empower Field at Mile High | Chase Stadium | |
| Capacity: 71,006 (Bid book capacity: 70,976) | Capacity: 65,515 (Bid book capacity: 67,402) | Capacity: 76,125 (Bid book capacity: 77,595) | Capacity 23,457(Bid Book capacity: 74,598) | |
| Edmonton, Alberta | Los Angeles, California | Nashville, Tennessee | Orlando, Florida | |
| Commonwealth Stadium | Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California) | Nissan Stadium | Camping World Stadium | |
| Capacity: 56,302 (Bid book capacity: 56,418) | Capacity: 92,000 (Bid book capacity: 88,432) | Capacity: 69,143 (Bid book capacity: 69,722) (expandable to 75,000) | Capacity: 60,219 (Bid book capacity: 65,000) | |
The following cities were not selected as host cities bid, according to Sunil Gulati, during the 2018 US Soccer Annual General Meeting.[32]
| Charlotte, North Carolina | Dallas, Texas | Detroit, Michigan | Las Vegas, Nevada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America Stadium | Cotton Bowl | Ford Field | Allegiant Stadium (Paradise, Nevada) | |
| Capacity: 75,525 | Capacity: 92,100 | Capacity: 65,000 (expandable to 70,000) | Capacity: 72,000 | |
| Los Angeles, California | Phoenix, Arizona | Salt Lake City, Utah | Tampa, Florida | |
| Memorial Coliseum | State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona) | Rice–Eccles Stadium | Raymond James Stadium | |
| Capacity: 93,607 | Capacity: 63,400 (expandable to 78,600) | Capacity: 53,609 | Capacity: 65,890 (expandable to 75,000) | |
| Chicago, Illinois | Cincinnati, Ohio | Washington D.C. | Montreal, Quebec | |
| Soldier Field | TQL Stadium | Audi Field | Saputo Stadium | |
| Capacity: 32,144 | Capacity: 2,132 | Capacity: 2,312 | Capacity: 21,432 | |
| New York City, New York | Harrison, New Jersey | Orlando, Florida | Chester, Philadelphia | |
| Yankee Stadium | Red Bull Arena | Inter&Co Stadium | Subaru Park | |
| Capacity: 16,458 | Capacity: 28,438 | Capacity: 11,452 | Capacuty: 32,441 | |
| Toronto, Ontario | Austin, Texas | Commerce City, Colorado | Frisco, Texas | |
| BMO STADIUM | Q2 Stadium | Dick,s Sporting Goods Park | Toyota Stadium | |
| Capacity: 20,332 | Capacity: 7,451 | Capacity: 11,325 | Capacity: 18,348 | |
| Houston, Texas | Carson, California | Los Angeles, California | Saint Paul, Minnesota | |
| Shell Energey Stadium | Dignity Health Sports Park | BMO Stadium | Allianz Field | |
| Capacity: 7,132 | Capacity: 19,431 | Capacity: 21,303 | Capacity: 23,411 | |
| Portland, Oregon | Sandy, Utah | San Jose, California | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| Providence Field | America First Field | PayPal Park | Children's Mercy Park | |
| Vancouver, British Columbia | St. Louis, Missouri | San Diego, California | Carson, California | |
| City Park Stadium | Snapdragon Stadium | Stubhub Center | ||
| Capacity: 5,347 | Capacity: 3,447 | Capacity: 24,124 | Capacity: 132,453 |
| Birmingham, Alabama | Cleveland, Ohio | Indianapolis, Indiana | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legion Field | FirstEnergy Stadium | Lucas Oil Stadium | |
| Capacity: 71,594 | Capacity: 67,895 | Capacity: 62,421 (expandable to 70,000) | |
| Jacksonville, Florida | New Orleans, Louisiana | Ottawa, Ontario | |
| TIAA Bank Field | Caesars Superdome | TD Place Stadium | |
| Capacity: 69,132 (expandable to 82,000) | Capacity: 73,208 (expandable to 76,438) | Capacity: 24,000 | |
| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Regina, Saskatchewan | San Antonio, Texas | |
| Acrisure Stadium | Mosaic Stadium | Alamodome | |
| Capacity: 69,690 | Capacity: 33,350 (expandable to 40,000) | Capacity: 64,000 | |
| Calgary, Alberta | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Montreal, Quebec | San Diego, California | Toronto, Ontario | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McMahon Stadium | Lambeau Field | Saputo Stadium | Qualcomm Stadium | Rogers Centre | |
| Capacity: 35,400 (expandable to 46,020) | Capacity: 81,441 | Capacity: 20,801 | Capacity: 70,561 | Capacity: 54,000 | |
| Venue-specific training team facilities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facility | Location | |||
| Atlanta | ||||
| Atlanta United Training Center (2) | Atlanta, Georgia | |||
| Pace Academy Riverview Sports Complex | Atlanta, Georgia | |||
| Georgia State University (2) | Atlanta, Georgia | |||
| Baltimore | ||||
| University of Maryland, Baltimore County | Catonsville, Maryland | |||
| Goucher College | Baltimore, Maryland | |||
| Towson University | Towson, Maryland | |||
| The Bob Lucido Fields at Covenant Park | Ellicott City, Maryland | |||
| Boston | ||||
| Wellesley College | Wellesley, Massachusetts | |||
| Nobles and Greenough School | Dedham, Massachusetts | |||
| New England Revolution Training Field | Foxborough, Massachusetts | |||
| Harvard University | Boston, Massachusetts | |||
| Cincinnati | ||||
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | |||
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, Kentucky | |||
| FC Cincinnati Training Ground | Milford, Ohio | |||
| Mount St. Joseph University | Delhi Township, Ohio | |||
| Dallas | ||||
| Southern Methodist University | University Park, Texas | |||
| Toyota Stadium (2) | Frisco, Texas | |||
| MoneyGram Soccer Park (2) | Dallas, Texas | |||
| Denver | ||||
| Dick's Sporting Goods Park (3) | Commerce City, Colorado | |||
| University of Denver | Denver, Colorado | |||
| Edmonton | ||||
| University of Alberta | Edmonton, Alberta | |||
| Henry Singer Park | Edmonton, Alberta | |||
| Victoria Soccer Club | Edmonton, Alberta | |||
| Coronation Park | Edmonton, Alberta | |||
| Guadalajara | ||||
| Club Atlas Colomos | Zapopan, Jalisco | |||
| Club TECOS AC | Guadalajara, Jalisco | |||
| Club Chivas San Rafael | Guadalajara, Jalisco | |||
| ITESO | Tlaquepaque, Jalisco | |||
| Houston | ||||
| City of Houston Design Build Training Site | Houston, Texas | |||
| Houston Sports Park | Houston, Texas | |||
| Harris County Design Build Training Site | Houston, Texas | |||
| PNC Stadium | Houston, Texas | |||
| Kansas City, MO | ||||
| Swope Soccer Village | Kansas City, Missouri | |||
| Kansas City Chiefs Practice Facility | Kansas City, Missouri | |||
| Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas | |||
| Park University | Parkville, Missouri | |||
| Los Angeles | ||||
| Banc of California Stadium | Los Angeles, California | |||
| Dignity Health Sports Park (2) | Carson, California | |||
| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Los Angeles, California | |||
| Mexico City | ||||
| Pumas La Cantera | Mexico City | |||
| Centro de Alto Rendimiento | Tlalpan, Mexico City | |||
| La Nueva Casa del Fútbol | Mexico City | |||
| Club América | Mexico City | |||
| Miami | ||||
| Barry University | Miami Shores, Florida | |||
| Florida International University | Miami, Florida | |||
| St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens, Florida | |||
| Inter Miami CF Training Site | Miami, Florida | |||
| Monterrey | ||||
| ITESM | Monterrey, Nuevo León | |||
| San Roberto International School Campus San Agustin | Monterrey, Nuevo León | |||
| Universidad de Monterrey | San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León | |||
| Irish Institute of Monterrey | San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León | |||
| Montréal | ||||
| Complexe sportif Marie-Victorin | Montreal, Quebec | |||
| Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard | Montreal, Quebec | |||
| Stade de Soccer de Montréal | Montreal, Quebec | |||
| Centre Nutrilait | Montreal, Quebec | |||
| Nashville | ||||
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville, Tennessee | |||
| Geodis Park | Nashville, Tennessee | |||
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, Tennessee | |||
| Future Nashville SC Training Facilities | Nashville, Tennessee | |||
| New York City | ||||
| Red Bull Arena | Harrison, New Jersey | |||
| New York City FC stadium | Bronx, New York | |||
| Red Bull Training Center | Whippany, New Jersey | |||
| Pingry School | Basking Ridge, New Jersey | |||
| Orlando | ||||
| Lake Sylvan Training Site | Sanford, Florida | |||
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | |||
| Exploria Stadium | Orlando, Florida | |||
| Lake Nona Training Site | Orlando, Florida | |||
| Philadelphia | ||||
| NovaCare Complex | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |||
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |||
| Subaru Park | Chester, Pennsylvania | |||
| Drexel University | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |||
| San Francisco Bay Area | ||||
| Spartan Soccer Complex (2) | San Jose, California | |||
| PayPal Park | San Jose, California | |||
| Stanford University | Stanford, California | |||
| Seattle | ||||
| Starfire Sports Complex | Tukwila, Washington | |||
| Magnuson Park | Seattle, Washington | |||
| University of Washington | Seattle, Washington | |||
| Genesee Playfields | Seattle, Washington | |||
| Toronto | ||||
| Toronto, Ontario | ||||
| Cherry Beach Fields | Toronto, Ontario | |||
| BMO Training Ground | Toronto, Ontario | |||
| Sunnybrook Park Fields | Toronto, Ontario | |||
| Washington, D.C. | ||||
| Washington, D.C. | ||||
| Maryland SoccerPlex | Boyds, Maryland | |||
| Audi Field | Washington, D.C. | |||
| RFK Stadium | Washington, D.C. | |||
Afghanistan[46]
Argentina[47]
Bolivia[47]
Brazil[48]
Colombia[48]
Costa Rica[49]
Ecuador[49]
El Salvador[51]
Finland[52]
Guyana[55]
Honduras[56]
Iraq[57]
Jamaica[54]
Liberia[58]
Namibia[59]
Nicaragua[56]
Panama[56]
Peru[56]
Saudi Arabia[60]
Venezuela[56]On October 24, 2017, a survey of adults in Canada, Mexico, and the United States showed a broad support for Canada–United States–Mexico bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It found that 77% of North American residents are in favor of hosting the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup, and 81% of respondents across the three countries agree that hosting the tournament would be good for their specific country. Also, nearly six in 10 (57 percent) of those surveyed say they would be interested in attending FIFA World Cup matches if the games were played near where they live or work.[62]
On April 20, 2018, Representatives Darin LaHood and fellow co-chairs of the Congressional Soccer Caucus Kathy Castor (FL-14), Don Bacon (NE-02), Ruben Kihuen (NV-04) introduced a resolution to recognize and support the efforts of the United Bid Committee to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.[63] The U.S. House of Representatives adopted this resolution on April 25, 2018.[64]
Toronto city councilors Mark Grimes and Cesar Palacio supported the bid, as well as Mayor John Tory.[65] Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante also supported it.[66]
On March 13, 2018, Canadian Minister of Sport Kirsty Duncan announced in Ottawa that the Canadian federal government officially threw its support behind the North American bid for the 2026 World Cup, with the promise of up to $5 million in immediate help should the unified bid win.[67]
U.S. President Donald Trump,[68] Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,[69] and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto[70] all supported the bid for the World Cup. Trump in 2024 falsely claimed to be responsible for the success of the bid despite having no involvement in it whatsoever.[71]
The bid is branded "United 2026", the logo of the bid is a ball with the number 26 representing the year "2026" with the colors of the flags of Canada, Mexico, and the United States and the slogans are: "United As One" (Spanish; Castilian: "Unidos Como Uno", French: "Unis Comme Un"). and "Football For All" (Spanish; Castilian: "Fútbol Para Todos", French: "Football Pour Tous").[72]
On December 28, 2017, during a sports business conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, FIFA president Gianni Infantino considered the United bid to be a positive message.[73]
U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders regarding immigration from certain Muslim-majority countries implemented in 2017 was touted as a potential risk, with Infantino saying, "Any team, including the supporters and officials of that team, who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup."[74] In response, the Trump administration sent letters to FIFA that read, in part, that Trump was "confident" that "all eligible athletes, officials and fans from all countries around the world would be able to enter the United States without discrimination."[75] In 2018, Trump then warned the countries that intended to support the Morocco bid to host the 2026 World Cup, tweeting: "The US has put together a STRONG bid w/ Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don't support us (including at the United Nations)?"[76] In January 2021, the travel ban was reversed by his successor Joe Biden.[77]