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North America has been granted the 2026 World Cup, beating out Morocco.

The joint bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada received 134 votes compared to 65 for Morocco.

The joint bid's plans call for 60 of the 80 games to be played in the United States -- including all matches from the quarterfinals onward -- while Canada and Mexico host 10 apiece. The final is expected to be played at MetLife Stadium, just outside New York.

Pretty exciting for those of us that live in this part of the world.

Watching the '94 World Cup as a youngster was what got me first interested in the sport. So, it's pretty cool that the U.S. gets to host it again. The game grew a lot in the States because of it (Led to the creation of MLS).

So stoked for this.

It's gonna be huge I think.

jirrit wrote:It's gonna be huge I think.

It absolutley will be.
It's going to be 48 teams...

Still, congratz to you guys, you deserved it for 2022 already and finally got it with Canada and Mexico also benefitting from it.

So how does this work? Will USA, Mexico and Canada automatically qualify in CONCACAF?

This is the only way canada could qualify

Det the Threat wrote:

jirrit wrote:It's gonna be huge I think.

It absolutley will be.
It's going to be 48 teams...

Still, congratz to you guys, you deserved it for 2022 already and finally got it with Canada and Mexico also benefitting from it.

Hey, I think 48 teams means we can qualify now.

metafisical wrote:So how does this work? Will USA, Mexico and Canada automatically qualify in CONCACAF?

Since basically every country in the world will be qualified it's not that big of a deal.

Seriously, 48 teams is a joke.

Little Nathan wrote:

metafisical wrote:So how does this work? Will USA, Mexico and Canada automatically qualify in CONCACAF?

Since basically every country in the world will be qualified it's not that big of a deal.

Seriously, 48 teams is a joke.

It's not that big of a deal to the US, but Canada never qualifies, so this is a huge deal to Canada. The last time we qualified was 1986.

CONCACAF would probably get 6 direct slots in a 48 team WC, which is the same what South America gets. Africa and Asia would profit the most with 8,5 or 9 slots. Teams like Burkina Faso, Uganda or Syria will be regularly guests in the future. And of course it´s just political. Infantino pretty much secures all votes from Africa and Asia. He will sit on the FIFA throne for a very long time. As long as no one changes the voting rules.

why did we share with Mexico?

I understand Canada but Mexico held their own Cup before....

Three nations is a bit much...

CalamityX12 wrote:why did we share with Mexico?

I understand Canada but Mexico held their own Cup before....

Three nations is a bit much...

Because then Morocco would have won the bid. Mexico has strong pull because it is a football country. US/Canada not so much.

ZoLo wrote:CONCACAF would probably get 6 direct slots in a 48 team WC, which is the same what South America gets. Africa and Asia would profit the most with 8,5 or 9 slots. Teams like Burkina Faso, Uganda or Syria will be regularly guests in the future. And of course it´s just political. Infantino pretty much secures all votes from Africa and Asia. He will sit on the FIFA throne for a very long time. As long as no one changes the voting rules.

No, it isn't only a political tattic. The fail of US, Italy, Galles, Holland, China, ecc... cost FIFA something like 500 millions in tv deal and sponsorship.
FIFA lose money every single fiscal year besides World Cup years (in fact they are trying to organized that s****y Club World Cup) when they hit a big profit, they can't afford to risk big markets every single time.

Don't like the idea of games being played across such a large distance. Better to stick to one country and one time zone.

48 teams is a complete joke.

Maybe this will be the end of the World Cup as the spectacle it has become.