FIFA to examine cities bidding to host the 2026 World Cup

Zurich, November 10 (PL)-- The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) will conclude the process of examining the candidate cities to host the 2026 World Cup from November 17 to 22, the entity revealed today in a statement.

A FIFA delegation will inspect the cities of Edmonton and Toronto in Canada, Los Angeles (United States) and Mexico City and Guadalajara (Mexico) with a view to hosting the universal event.

The experts from the world's top soccer organization will hold discussions with representatives of the aspiring host cities and local stakeholders to discuss various aspects of the organization, including city management, infrastructure and sustainability, as well as commercial, legal and legacy issues.

In addition, they will discuss essential infrastructure for the event, such as stadiums and training facilities, and potential venues for the FIFA Fan Festival.

Previously, FIFA has already inspected in two rounds of visits the cities of Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC (USA), as well as Monterrey (Mexico), which are also aspiring to become World Cup venues.

Once the tours have been completed, a thorough evaluation will be carried out, with the intention of concluding the selection process in the first or second quarter of 2022.

FIFA also announced Wednesday the appointment of Peter Montopoli as Canada's chief operating officer for the 2026 World Cup.

Montopoli served as general secretary of Canada Soccer for 14 years and was the general manager of the Local Organizing Committee for the 2015 Canada Women's World Cup and the Canadian head of the joint bid by Canada, the United States and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup.