US, Canada and Mexico beat Morocco in vote for World Cup 2026

Summary

Canada, US & Mexico win right to host 2026 World Cup
The 'United' bid received 67% of the vote
Spain manager Julen Lopetegui sacked one day before 2018 World Cup

Live Reporting

Daryl Hammond

'Incredible sacking'published at 11:12 British Summer Time 13 June 2018
Spain sack Lopetegui
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Lopetegui sacked by Spainpublished at 11:11 British Summer Time 13 June 2018
Spain sack Lopetegui
Spanish Football Federation (SFF) president Luis Rubiales is currently holding a news conference.
He explains that Julen Lopetegui has been sacked and that the SFF only knew he was joining Real Madrid after the World Cup, five minutes before it was announced he would join the Champions League winners.
"We have been forced to dispense with the national coach. We wish you the greatest of luck," said Rubiales.
"The negotiation has occurred without any information to the RFEF. Just five minutes before the press release. There's a way to act that needs to be fulfilled."
Spain sack Lopeteguipublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 13 June 2018
Breaking
The Spanish Football Federation has just confirmed it has sacked Julen Lopetegui as manager, little more than 24 hours before the World Cup begins.
Trump & Beckham back Americapublished at 11:04 British Summer Time 13 June 2018
Both the Unites States president and former LA Galaxy midfielder have thrown their support behind North America's bid for the World Cup.
"I believe a World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States would be amazing. Proud to support the United Bid to host the 2026 World Cup," Beckham posted on Instagram.
Trump urged nations with ties to the US to support the bid, promising a speedy visa process for teams, officials and fans.
Some have suggested the US president's vocal support of the bid will in turn favour Morocco, external.
Image source, Donald Trump
The United bid - US, Canada and Mexicopublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 13 June 2018
Image source, FIFA
Image caption,
The 23 potential World Cup 2026 venues in Canada, the United States and Mexico
With the 2026 World Cup set to be the biggest, hosting 48 teams and 80 matches, it may also be the most ambitious if the US, Mexico and Canada get their way.
A joint bid between the three countries could see the competition hosted over the continent of North America and is predicted to generate $14bn in revenue.
Mexico have hosted the tournament twice, in 1970 and 1986, and it was staged in the US in 1994.
- Of the 16 host cities, 10 would be in the United States with the others split evenly between Canada and Mexico.
- The final would be at the 84,953-capacity MetLife Stadium, which is home to NFL sides the New York Giants and the New York Jets.
- The distance between the most northern venue (Edmonton) and the most southern (Mexico City) is almost 3,000 miles.
- That compares to 1,900 miles in Russia (Kaliningrad to Ekaterinburg) this summer and more than 2,800 miles in Brazil in 2014 (Manaus to Porto Alegre).
A country vs a continentpublished at 10:10 British Summer Time 13 June 2018
Image source, AFP
Eight years on from scandal and controversy, we are back here again - the Fifa World Cup host vote.
After allegations of corruption against the award of the 2022 tournament to Qatar, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has "challenged anyone" to find a fairer or more transparent bid process than the one for the 2026 World Cup.
One day before the 2018 edition kicks off in Russia, the 68th Fifa congress will decide between just two contenders to host the world's biggest football competition.
A joint bid of the US, Canada and Mexico, or Morocco.