The election of Donald Trump as USA president has heightened political tensions with neighbours Mexico, but Gulati insisted Trump supported and actively encouraged their involvement in the bid.
"We possess the complete support of the Usa government in this endeavor".
Under the current proposal, the US would host the majority of the games, 60, with the other 20 split evenly between Mexico and Canada.
Gulati said 60 of the tournament's matches would be staged in the United States, with Canada and Mexico hosting 10 games each.
Gulati didn't directly mention President Donald Trump in that particular remark, but the impact of the policies of the fledging administration on a World Cup bid involving feuding neighbors was a constant theme during the event atop the Freedom Tower in lower Manhattan.
The U.S., Mexico, and Canada all expect to qualify automatically - as the last co-hosts South Korea and Japan did in 2002 - but the FIFA Council has the final decision on the 2026 slots. By comparison, the 2014 World Cup featured 12 venues in Brazil. That means more teams, more matches, more stadiums, more infrastructure, more everything.
"It's up to us to put on the World Cup because we have a duty to the fans and I think the World Cup - no pun intended - needs to trump politics", he said.
The official announcement came on Monday at a media event in NY, with the heads of all three federations signing a Memorandum of Understanding.
Police assume 'serious devices' rocked team bus
The team was set to play against Monaco in the "Champions League quarterfinal first leg game", the AP reports. Monaco also has to play this weekend and the return Champions League match is scheduled for next week.
Toronto's BMO Field - home of Major League Soccer's Toronto FC - is the only multi-purpose stadium in Canada now outfitted with a natural grass playing surface. However, after a tainted vote saw Russian Federation and Qatar earn hosting rights for the next two World Cups, the power has been returned to FIFA's 211-member Congress after a almost four-decade long gap in voting rights.
"We haven't discussed any of that", Montagliani said.
A final decision on the successful bid will likely be made in May 2020. "I'd assume this will be the same". In May 2020, Federation Internationale de Football Association will make its final decision on the host country (s). By teaming up, Canada, Mexico, and the United States will only need to compete with CAF bids from countries in Africa, CONMEBOL bids from countries in South America, and OFC bids from countries in Oceania.
Even though the CONCACAF joint bid is the frontrunner, history shows that anything can happen. "It's an event second to none. If we get the tournament it will accelerate the process". Montagliani agreed it's a "possibility" that no other nations will attempt to host in 2026.
Federation Internationale de Football Association rules now rule out bidders from Europe and Asia, because Russia is staging the World Cup in 2018 and Qatar will host the showpiece event in 2022.
And that counts for something.
The U.S., Mexic, and Canada have launched a joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup. The 16 extra teams from 2026 will add to demand for stadiums, training camps, hotels and transport.
A question that is unanswered right now is the cost of removing the artificial turf, and replacing it with natural grass which many see as mandatory for the event.
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