The U.S., Canada and Mexico have collectively hosted 13 FIFA World Cups at the men's, women's and youth levels and set attendance records for five of those events.
The joint bid was announced on Monday atop the Freedom Tower in lower Manhattan by the heads of the American, Mexican and Canadian federations.
The North American nations are seeking to bring the World Cup back to the region for the first time since 1994 when the US was the sole host. Canada hosted the 2015 Women's World Cup, but every venue used was composed of artificial turf - a decision that was widely derided.
The 2026 tournament will be the first to feature an expanded 48-nation field and the proposal will see the United States host 60 games, with 10 each in Canada and Mexico.
The only other time multiple nations have hosted the World Cup was in 2002, when it was held by South Korea and Japan.
The U.S. and Mexico contribute two of the bigger media markets in the world, especially with the ability to host games in prime time, plus a more mature sponsorship environment, Gulati said.
Gulati, during the announcement in NY, said the US will host 60 games-including every game from the quarterfinals-while Mexico and Canada will host 10 games each.
Under FIFA plans for its expanded 48-team World Cup, CONCACAF is awarded six berths. The top two teams from each group will then advance to a 32-team knockout stage. "The host or hosts will be chosen in May 2020, before the next USA presidential election". Under the current proposal, the US would host the majority of the games, 60, with the other 20 split evenly between Mexico and Canada. All of the games from the quarter-finals onwards would be held in the US. Federation Internationale de Football Association has ruled that countries from Europe and Asia are unable to bid due to those continents hosting the 2018 and 2022 tournaments respectively and that leaves few rivals to prevent a North American World Cup.
No nation from CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has hosted the tournament since the United States in 1994. Brazil in South America hosted in 2014 and South Africa was the site of the 2010 event.
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"There has never been a World Cup where the host countries have not been qualified", Gulati said.
Meanwhile, Mexico federation president in a statement said, "If we are selected to host, it will be an honor to welcome everyone with open arms".
All World Cup bids must be submitted by December 2018.
Even though the CONCACAF joint bid is the frontrunner, history shows that anything can happen. Last month, Infantino stated, "Any team, including the supporters and officials...who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup".
This North American joint bid is now favored to be chosen due to the increased size of the tournament.
As of now, the process is quite simple as there are no competing bids to speak. The bid also comes at a time when the relationship between Mexico and the United States has come under scrutiny, with the USA president, Donald Trump, vowing to build a wall on the Mexican border.
"Frankly, I think a few countries could".
"Like I said earlier, there will be a (World Cup) champion, but the real winners are soccer and the region to have invited the world to enjoy this celebration".
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