Sun | Oct 1, 2023

FOOTBALL: FIFA World Cup 2026 bidding process delayed

Published:Wednesday | June 10, 2015 | 12:00 AM
AP photo
FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke speaks to the media during a news conference in Samara, Russia today. Valcke said it would be 'nonsense' to begin the next bidding process on schedule this week amid the American investigation into soccer corruption.

The bidding process for the 2026 World Cup has been postponed amid allegations around the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

FIFA's secretary general Jerome Valcke says it was nonsense to begin the process in the current climate.

The vote to decide who will host the 2026 World Cup is due to take place in Kuala Lumpur in May 2017.

The United States are front-runners to stage the tournament, but Canada, Mexico and Colombia are also thought to be interested.

Russia and Qatar were selected to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups by a secret ballot of FIFA's 22 executive members in December 2010.

However, Swiss prosecutors are now investigating alleged financial irregularities surrounding the bidding process.

Both Russia and Qatar have denied any wrongdoing.

Football's world governing body had planned to inform its member federations this week of the bidding schedule for 2026, but Valcke says due to the situation, it is unwise to start any bidding process.