Fifa World Cup 2026 voting precedent could hurt China’s hosting hopes due to Hong Kong and Macau links
Puerto Rico, Guam and US Virgin Islands decide not to vote due to their status as US protectorates, an issue that could one day impact the mainland
The United States, Canada and Mexico will hold the 2026 World Cup finals after their United bid won the hosting rights by a landslide in Moscow on Wednesday, but a precedent set in the voting could lead to complications for China’s hopes in the future.
The United bid secured 134 votes to Morocco’s 65 to secure a victory in the two-horse race that takes the tournament back to North America for the first time since the United States hosted the 1994 finals.
“To have a message coming from football that says actually Mexico, Canada and the United States together can organise the biggest sporting and social event together, it is a nice message,” said Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
The decision ensures the World Cup will be co-hosted by three nations for the first time after a vote by 203 member associations – three nations abstained and one, Iran, voted for none of the bids – at the Fifa congress that represented a break with the past.
Previously, the 24-man executive committee – now renamed the Fifa Council and expanded to 32 members – awarded the hosting rights, a practice that was ended after the body controversially handed Russia and Qatar the 2018 and 2022 finals respectively.