FIFA "unveiled the timetable of its delayed bidding process for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday," with FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plans for a 40-team tournament to be decided upon by October and a final decision on the hosts to be made in May '20, according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. FIFA said that "it would consider giving the green light to joint bids and review a rule which currently allows a continent to stage the tournament every eight years." A FIFA source said that it "had considered increasing this wait period to 12 years or more and that there had been no discussions about allowing a continent to host successive World Cups." The decisions "were among the first passed by the new-look FIFA Council, which was holding its maiden meeting since it replaced the old executive committee under reforms passed in February." FIFA said that a "consultation process," outlining new standards for bidders, would run until May '17, followed by a preparation phase running until Dec. '18 when countries would have to submit their bids" (REUTERS, 5/10). The BBC reported the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Colombia and England "could bid to host in 2026." The consultation phase "will look at four main areas:" human rights and environmental protection, the ability to exclude bids that do not meet technical requirements, a review of stance on joint bids and whether to increase the World Cup to 40 teams (BBC, 5/10).
