LOS ANGELES: A FIFA evaluation committee launched a five-day inspection tour of the United States, Canada and Mexico on Monday as the bidding battle for the 2026 World Cup enters the home straight. The delegation will inspect an array of proposed facilities for the 2026 World Cup, including stadiums, training facilities and potential team base camps. The North American joint bid is widely seen as the front-runner for the 2026 race, with Morocco the only other candidate for the expanded 48-team tournament. North American bid officials have said 60 of the tournament’s matches will be staged in the United States, with Canada and Mexico hosting 10 games each. Although the North American bid is the favourite, Morocco’s has attracted support in Europe.

Source: New Strait Times April 09, 2018 21:45 UTC