The FIFA logo is pictured prior to the FIFA Council meeting at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP)
Republished October 14, 2016 - 11:08 AM
Original Publication Date October 14, 2016 - 5:55 AM
ZURICH - North America became a stronger favourite to host an expanded World Cup in 2026 after FIFA essentially barred European countries from bidding on Friday, a decision that could be good news for Canada and its goal to stage soccer's biggest showcase.
The FIFA Council agreed that UEFA and Asian confederation members should not bid again so soon after Russia hosts the 2018 World Cup and Qatar has the 2022 tournament.
"That has changed the landscape (of the 2026 contest) a little bit," said U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, a FIFA Council member.
FIFA said Europe would be put on standby only if "none of the received bids fulfil the strict technical and financial requirements."
That's unlikely if the United States bids as expected, either alone or with Canada and Mexico.
Canada Soccer officials have been on the record about their aspirations to host the tournament, and a possible 2026 bid was incorporated in the organization's 2014-18 strategic plan that encouraged growth of the game in Canada.
"On the perspective of what was released today we're still very much interested and looking at the next steps, whatever they may be," Peter Montopoli, Soccer Canada's general secretary, said at an event in Vancouver.
The Canadian men's team hasn't appeared in the World Cup since 1986 and last month was eliminated from the most recent round of qualifying.
The country has hosted every CONCACAF championship and every FIFA event except for the world futsal, beach and club championships and Confederations Cup. The women's World Cup was hosted by Canada in 2015.
In the past, host countries have used eight to 10 stadiums, although Canada has taken note of 2022 host Qatar’s plan to use just eight.
The women's World Cup was staged in six Canadian cities — Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal, Ottawa and Moncton. Toronto and Montreal also offer several stadium options.
Montopoli said Canada Soccer is also open to a joint bid, which may be attractive to FIFA. A three-way bid could also be more popular if the tournament grows to 40 or 48 teams.
"One thing I think we can say today is (we) probably will lean more on CONCACAF from that perspective," said Montopoli. "Knowing that joint bids are allowed now we will take our direction from CONCACAF if that is a way CONCACAF wishes to go."
Canada Soccer president Victor Montagliani, who was in Zurich on Friday, is also the president of CONCACAF.
A decision will be made on whether to expand the tournament on Jan. 9-10 when the FIFA Council next meets in Zurich.
FIFA has targeted 2020 for its member federations to choose the 2026 host.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was elected this year after promising voters a 40-team World Cup, would not declare North America as the most likely host region.
"It is still too early to say that," Infantino said. "We hope we have many bidders and we can choose ... who the best bidder is."
Still, the North American regional body CONCACAF has long been seen as the natural host for 2026 and its claim got stronger Friday. The United States was the last country in the region to stage the tournament in 1994.
"The answer is 'Sure,' it would be silly to say anything but that," Gulati said of a contest that could also include bids from Africa and South America.
CONCACAF lost out when a hosting rotation system approved during Sepp Blatter's presidency was abandoned before its scheduled turn in 2018 came around.
Back then, FIFA preferred to block continents from two World Cup bidding contests after hosting, but when statutes were updated in recent reforms the rule said only one tournament had to be skipped.
Gulati said the new clarity in bidding would encourage an entry from the United States.
"We now know some of the rules," said Gulati, FIFA's top American official. "We will look at it. We have great relationships with Canada and Mexico. We also have a country with 320 million people that has hosted a World Cup and with a lot of terrific stadiums and great infrastructure."
A U.S.-hosted World Cup would likely set attendance records — in 1994 there were 3.59 million total fans and an average of 69,000 per match.
Infantino said Friday that a bigger World Cup — potentially of 48 teams and 80 matches with an opening playoff round — would be for sporting reasons, "not a financial or political decision."
Still, he foresaw more revenue from FIFA's current $5 billion per tournament, which could help increase the funding he promised to FIFA members.
"Whatever additional costs there will be, will be largely outweighed by additional revenues, obviously. Which means we are in a comfortable position," Infantino said.
— With files from The Canadian Press
News from © The Associated Press, 2016