U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati this week said that his group "has not made a decision regarding a bid" for the '26 World Cup and has certainly not "offered to share that tournament with Mexico, contradicting reports from last week’s FIFA Congress in Mexico City," according to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. TIMES. USSF BOD member John Motta last week said that the U.S. and Mexico had "discussed joining forces to stage the tournament." But Gulati "took issue with that report." Gulati: "We haven’t made a decision about the ('26) World Cup. Until we know what the rules are of the bid process -- which won’t be until October at the earliest -- we’re not going to be making a decision. And we certainly haven’t had any formal discussions with the Mexican federation at this point." Baxter noted the U.S. is "considered a favorite to win" the '26 tournament should it submit a bid. But Gulati said that there is "no guarantee the federation will do so." A vote on the '26 tournament is "not expected to take place" until May '20 (L.A. TIMES, 5/19).
