Co-op Bid Involving United States Wins 2026 World Cup Hosting Rights

For the first time since 1994, there will be World Cup soccer played on American soil. You just have to wait a few more years until 2026.

FIFA, the world governing body of international soccer, voted for the hosts of the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday and the two choices were a joint bid featuring the USA, Canada and Mexico and Morocco.

The USA joint bid won the vote 134-64 with one country's voting member abstaining. The almost 200 votes in the process are a change after there was controversy surrounding the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups which were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively. During those voting cycles less than 25 members voted in each election.

Of the 80 games that are set to be played in the 2026 edition of the tournament, 60 will be played in the United States. Canada and Mexico will each host 10 games.

The United States men's soccer team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup which is set to start tomorrow from Russia. With the awarding of the 2026 World Cup to them, they will automatically qualify as hosts. Canada and Mexico likely will be included in the 48 team field automatically as well.

Back in 1994, the Pontiac Silverdome hosted four World Cup games. As of this writing Ford Field in Detroit was considered for hosting but was eliminated from contention at the 2018 US Soccer Annual General Meeting. It is unknown if that status will change now that the hosting bid has been made official, however we wouldn't hold your breath.