North American joint bid wins 2026 World Cup hosting rights.

[Tobias Funke]

Won rights over a bid from Morocco.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/football/44464913

[saucelife90]

I'm not a huge soccer fan, but this is huge! It's just too bad Canada (most likely) won't be sending a team.

[DusterDave]

I'm not a huge soccer fan, but this is huge! It's just too bad Canada (most likely) won't be sending a team.

Canada will have a team there. The host country gets automatic qualification and even though there are three host nations in 2026, I fully expect all three of Canada, USA and Mexico to be granted automatic qualification as this will be the first tournament that is expanded to 48 teams from 32.

Canada?s host cities will be Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto by the way.

[saucelife90]

Canada will have a team there. The host country gets automatic qualification and even though there are three host nations in 2026, I fully expect all three of Canada, USA and Mexico to be granted automatic qualification as this will be the first tournament that is expanded to 48 teams from 32.

Canada?s host cities will be Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto by the way.

Good to know 2026 may be the first time I follow the World Cup then!

I heard the cities were Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver?

[DusterDave]

I heard the cities were Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver?

https://twitter.com/united2026/statu...75734407827456

[DusterDave]

This will be great for the growth of the game in Canada. Hosting a tournament and all the events leading up to it will get the young generations more into the sport, coupled with the beginning of the new Canadian Premier League which kicks off next summer, we may actually have a decent national team 20 years down the road. Very exciting! http://canpl.ca/

[2014olympicgold]

There's talk about how because it's a 3 country host, they can't have 3 countries auto-in so Canada would be left out as USA and Mexico can field good teams.

Wouldn't surprise me if Canada was the 1st host country without a team.

[DusterDave]

There's talk about how because it's a 3 country host, they can't have 3 countries auto-in so Canada would be left out as USA and Mexico can field good teams.

Wouldn't surprise me if Canada was the 1st host country without a team.

Where did you hear or read this? I watched most of the broadcast and it wasn't brought up at all.

[2014olympicgold]

Where did you hear or read this? I watched most of the broadcast and it wasn't brought up at all.

Tim and Sid brought it up last night and I heard it before. But they may also expand the number of teams involved so then Canada would def get a team.

---EDIT---
2026 they have said it'll expand to 48teams, so if they don't expand, I can see Canada getting the short end of the stick and not get a team.

[PenguinHunter]

Wow!!! I had hopes shattered when someone told me Morocco was also bidding... this is awesome news!! I will definitely start following soccer more now with the upcoming world cup and this news!

[DusterDave]

Tim and Sid brought it up last night and I heard it before. But they may also expand the number of teams involved so then Canada would def get a team.

---EDIT---
2026 they have said it'll expand to 48teams, so if they don't expand, I can see Canada getting the short end of the stick and not get a team.

I wouldn't put much into what Tim & Sid say. They should change their names to Harry & Lloyd. Scroll up a bit, I mentioned earlier that the tournament will expand to 48 teams, that is already confirmed by FIFA.

[2014olympicgold]

I wouldn't put much into what Tim & Sid say. They should change their names to Harry & Loyd. Scroll up a bit, I mentioned earlier that the tournament will expand to 48 teams, that is already confirmed by FIFA.

But let's be honest. If they were to not allow a host team to play, this is the one. 3 host teams when Canada has only been in it once (1986). I only have doubts as it's a 3 country host and I don't trust FIFA

[DusterDave]

But let's be honest. If they were to not allow a host team to play, this is the one. 3 host teams when Canada has only been in it once (1986). I only have doubts as it's a 3 country host and I don't trust FIFA

I agree that if they were to single out one of the three it would be Canada but FIFA won?t do that. And you have to look at it this way as well, aside from this year?s fluke with the USA not qualifying, Mexico and the USA are locks to represent CONCACAF at every World Cup. FIFA would really only be awarding Canada a free birth into the tournament. I know that sounds a little presumptuous but the likely hood of the USA not qualifying out of the CONCACAF region again is just as likely as Italy not qualifying out of UEFA.

[Doug Glatt]

I guess Morocco couldn't come up with enough cash for bribes.

[DusterDave]

I guess Morocco couldn't come up with enough cash for bribes.

Sadly, I think you hit the nail on the head. I fully expected Morocco to "win" the bid.