The US, Canada and Mexico have declared their intention to submit a historic unified bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The proposal, if accepted, would represent the first time that three nations have together hosted a FIFA competition.

The countries, which are all members of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), have hosted 13 FIFA events between them, including the Men’s, Women’s and Youth World Cups and Confederations Cup – more than any other trio of geographically connected nations.

US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani, and Federación Mexicana de Fútbol president Decio de Maria announced their intentions at a press conference held yesterday (10 April) in New York.

"This is a milestone day for U.S. Soccer and for CONCACAF,” said Gulati. “We gave careful consideration to the prospect of bidding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and ultimately feel strongly this is the right thing for our region and for our sport. Along with our partners from the Canadian Soccer Association and the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, we are confident that we will submit an exemplary bid worthy of bringing the FIFA World Cup back to North America.

“The US, Mexico and Canada have individually demonstrated their exceptional abilities to host world-class events. When our nations come together as one, as we will for 2026, there is no question we will deliver an experience that will celebrate the game and serve players, supporters and partners alike.”

Mexico was the first nation to host the FIFA World Cup twice, having first held the event in 1970 and then again in 1986, when Diego Maradona’s Argentine stormed to victory. De Maria said hosting the tournament a third time would be “a unique opportunity.”

“We are filled with pride [about this bid] and committed to make it the best ever,” he said. “Mexico has been recognised for being a magnificent host of past FIFA events, such as the two World Cups, the 1999 Confederations Cup, the 2011 Under-17 World Cup, and most recently the 2016 FIFA Congress. If we are selected to host, it will be an honour to welcome everyone with open arms.”

Montagliani, who is also president of CONCACAF, added: “Canada is the only remaining G-8 nation to have not hosted a FIFA World Cup despite our history of success in raising the bar for youth and women's FIFA tournaments.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first with the expanded 48-team format and will comprise a total of 80 games. The bid proposes that 60 to be held in the US, including the final, and an additional 10 each will take place in Canada and Mexico.

The US hosted the tournament in 1994, which was the most successful in history for overall attendance.

FIFA will vote on the host of the 2026 tournament in three years time, significantly later than originally scheduled due to the furore that still exists following the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar – bids which have been mired in corruption allegations.

European and Asian countries are unable to bid for the 2026 World Cup due to a rotation policy that excludes the previous two host confederations.

South Korea and Japan became the first nations to co-host a World Cup in 2002.