The News

Mexico Will Seek to Host 2026 World Cup

51113168. México, 13 Nov 2015 (Notimex-Isaías Hernández).- Termina la primera mitad del encuentro entre la selección mexicana de futbol y su similar de El Salvador, en el Estadio Azteca. NOTIMEX/FOTO/ISAÍAS HERNÁNDEZ/IHH/SPO

Mexico City – Decio de María, President of the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF), made it clear that Mexico will seek a candidacy to host the 2026 World Cup.

Decio de María, president of the Mexican Soccer Federation clearly stated Mexico’s intentions of bidding for 2026 world cup. Photo: Notimex/Bernardo Moncada.

“I have said it, when the process open to sign the 2026 world cup Mexico will be present”, he expressed.

During a press conference the official pointed out the importance of bringing a competition of this magnitude to Mexico, who has already been host on two occasions, in 1970 and 1986.

“I believe the world cup is a party, it opens its doors to all the citizens of the world, you know what it means beyond what is at stake on the field, being the host of the world’s biggest party is an honour”, he said.

He added that “it is very important commitment in terms of organization of which mot Mexicans would be proud of and when the time comes Mexico will raise its hand to do the procedure and seek this goal.”

INFANTINO SEEKS “BULLET-PROOF” BIDDING PROCESS

During a trip to Britain, new FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated that his organization must make the 2026 World Cup bidding process “absolutely bullet-proof” because its credibility was at stake.

Infantino, elected Fifa boss last week, hopes to start 2026 bidding within three months after it was delayed by the wide-reaching corruption scandal that rocked the governing body last year.

Newly elected FIFA President Gianni Infantino has vowed to lead FIFA out of corruption and scandal. Photo: Reuters/Ruben Sprich.

“We have to get the 2026 bidding process absolutely right,” Infantino told the BBC.

“It’s certainly the commitment that I want to give; that I will do everything I can to make sure that this happens because I think that the credibility of FIFA is, as well, at stake here.

“We need to make sure that we do everything we possibly can, not only to prevent strange things to happen around bidding processes but also to prevent the perception that strange things could happen.

“We need to make sure that bidding process that we put in place is absolutely bullet-proof.”

Every World Cup bidding process since 1998 has been the subject of allegations of corruption and bribery.

WITH INFORMATION FROM NOTMEX