Morocco could trump North America's 2026 World Cup bid

[February 28, 2018]    With the United States out of the World Cup in Russia this summer, there were high hopes the soccer tournament would come to U.S. soil in 2026.

However, the 2026 World Cup may be off on the road to Morocco, sources told ESPN.

With voting coming up just before the World Cup begins on June 14, there are doubts the "North American" bid by the U.S., Canada and Mexico will get the votes needed to win out over Morocco, an African nation of 33 million on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Late bids can come in before March 14, but for now, it's North America and Morocco, and according to ESPN, one source has Africa, parts of Asia and South America going for Morocco, so the North American bid would need to counter with parts of Europe, parts of Asia and Oceania in its corner.

The prospective host nations can't vote and Guatemala is suspended, meaning the winning bidder needs 104 votes out of the 211 member nations.

The North American plan would see 60 games played in the United States, 10 in Canada and 10 in Mexico. The quarterfinals, semifinals and final all would be held in the United States.

--Field Level Media

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