The bidding process for the 2026 World Cup has been postponed, following allegations of corruption in the bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.The decision was due to be made in Kuala Lumpur in May 2017, but that date will now be rescheduled, according to Jérôme Valcke, the Fifa secretary general.
“Due to the situation, I think it’s nonsense to start any bidding process for the time being. It will be postponed,” Valcke said on a visit to Samara, one of the Russian cities that will host the 2018 World Cup. Canada, Mexico and Colombia have confirmed interest in bidding for the 2026 tournament, though the USA are considered favourites, while Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, has reiterated his stance that there will be no England bid while Sepp Blatter is Fifa president. Blatter may leave his post as soon as December 16, the date Fifa have earmarked for an emergency meeting in Zurich to determine his successor. “It was decided to place the administrative process on hold for the 2026 Fifa World Cup bidding due to the current situation,” Fifa said.
“Due to the situation, I think it’s nonsense to start any bidding process for the time being. It will be postponed,” Valcke said on a visit to Samara, one of the Russian cities that will host the 2018 World Cup. Canada, Mexico and Colombia have confirmed interest in bidding for the 2026 tournament, though the USA are considered favourites, while Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, has reiterated his stance that there will be no England bid while Sepp Blatter is Fifa president. Blatter may leave his post as soon as December 16, the date Fifa have earmarked for an emergency meeting in Zurich to determine his successor. “It was decided to place the administrative process on hold for the 2026 Fifa World Cup bidding due to the current situation,” Fifa said.
