FIFA awards 2026 World Cup to U.S., Mexico and Canada

What a bunch of crap! Soccer is very popular with the younger generation and getting bigger. 

People have been saying that for 30 years.

How will they manage that with the US declaring war on both nations? Ah, Trump will be long dead before then and perhaps things in the US slightly more sane.

Doubt it. Considering what his doctor said and being in pretty much very good health for his age you probably could outlive all of us here on JT.

Thankfully, the USA doesn't care about soccer.

What a bunch of crap! Soccer is very popular with the younger generation and getting bigger. I know we dominate in most games normally, but give us some time and we’ll kick butt and beat most of y’all one day.

where soccer (known as football outside Canada and the US

A fairly recent development. It was widely also known as soccer even in the UK until quite recently:

http://thefootballattic.blogspot.com/2013/01/stick-with-soccer-daily-mirror-sticker.html

If they published that today people would claim that the Americans had taken over.

@Jimizo, you obviously know nothing about sport in Canada, where soccer (known as football outside Canada and the US, where 'football' involves huge guys in padded uniforms) is the most popular sport, after hockey. I know, I've played, coached and officiated it.

USA-Canada-Mexico together? That sounds really ironic, considering the current situation. We are living in crazy times.

Lostrune2 - well said.

How will they manage that with the US declaring war on both nations? Ah, Trump will be long dead before then and perhaps things in the US slightly more sane.

As expected, they played it safe - the expanded 48-team tournament goes to the United bid

When you're entering into new territory by expanding to a whopping 48 teams, there'll be a lot of unexpected bugs that would need to be ironed out for future 48-team World Cups, so ya have to minimize the unknowns and the risks. The United bid has all the facilities already built; there's enough hotel rooms; transportation can handle the traffic; no need for major infrastructure investments. That leads to $11B of profit - which I'm sure also helped their cause with FIFA member nations getting their slices bigger

And since it's a whopping 48 teams, I'd be surprised if Canada, Mexico, and the US don't all get automatic spots

Thankfully, the USA doesn't care about soccer.

Soccer isn't in the US' 4 major pro sports (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL), but that's partly due to those leagues being the planet's pinnacle pro league of their respective sport with the world's best players (so that's tough to beat)

On the other hand, the 1994 US World Cup is still the most attended World Cup by far, and it's pro league MLS already averages more than even France's Ligue 1 and Holland's Eredivisie

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3292354/MLS-attendances-soaring-America-finally-embraced-beautiful-game.html

* Seattle Sounders are the second best supported side in the Western hemisphere, surpassed only by Liverpool

* America's top division has a higher average attendance than France's Ligue 1 and Holland's Eredivisie

The majority of Americans and Canadians couldn’t give a crap about football itself.

Because the US has such a huge population, even just a portion of that population who enjoys soccer still translates to a heck of a lot of people (i.e. a less-than-majority of 330 million people is still more than many countries' whole populations)

Expensive for the real football fans

There's enough Canadians and Americans who could afford it; Mexico maybe not as much

Feel bad for fans outside North America though

Does that mean all three countries will automatically qualify to play at the event?

Hmmm, jointly hosting the World Cup with 2 of our newest and greatest enemies. How's that going to work out?

Expensive for the real football fans

Yes. However, FIFA couldn’t give a crap about real football fans.

The majority of Americans and Canadians couldn’t give a crap about football itself.

FIFA gives a crap about getting China in the World Cup.

Crap.

Great. Yet another thing for everyone to whine about.

Better than Qatar 2022 (obviously) but I am still not sold on the idea of a 48-team WC. Uzbekistan v Burkina Faso in Salt Lake City anyone?

Well, talk about awkward !

Thankfully, the USA doesn't care about soccer.