FIFA wants to project the image of clean World Cups going forward.
That’s the main takeaway from the changes to the World Cup-bidding process FIFA announced at its Congress on Tuesday in Mexico, as soccer’s world scandal-ridden governing body seeks to prove it has cleaned up its act. The 2026 World Cup is the first men’s senior tournament under which bidders will operate under reinforced rules.
FIFA first will spend the next year (Phase One) determining what technical, human rights and sustainability standards bidders must meet in order for hosting consideration. FIFA can exclude future bidders on these grounds alone.
Bidders will formally prepare their cases between June 2017 and December 2018 (Phase Two). FIFA will evaluate the bids between January 2019 and February 2020 (Phase Three). FIFA will announce the host country for the 2026 World Cup in May 2020 (Phase Four).
The United States, Canada and Mexico are expected to bid for the right to host the 2026 World Cup.
Other changes to existing hosting rules include:
Joint bids
Japan and South Korea hosted the 2002 World Cup, but subsequent tournaments have been staged in single countries. FIFA will announce in October whether multiple countries can simultaneously host future World Cups and confederations themselves (as opposed to individual national federations) can bid to stage tournaments.
Continental rotation
FIFA also will decide whether to modify its rotation policy, which prohibits countries from the same confederation from hosting consecutive World Cups, by October, a source told Reuters. FIFA reportedly is considering a mandatory 12-year gap between World Cups in the same confederations.
FIFA in October 2010 chose Russia and Qatar as host nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Many believe corruption influenced those votes, and Swiss authorities are currently determining whether crimes were committed in the bidding process for those tournaments.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
