The North American bid — led by the U.S. — to host the 2026 World Cup is in jeopardy, in part because of an anti-American sentiment spawned by President Donald Trump, ESPN reports.
What was seen as a slam dunk joint bid from the U.S., Canada and Mexico is now slipping away, ESPN reports, with Morocco rising fast and possibly the front-runner.
One official told ESPN that Morocco has the support of much of Asia and South America in addition to Africa, which if true would put it over the 104-vote threshold needed to win when the vote is taken in June.
FIFA will announce the 2026 host on June 13.
Though the resources and infrastructure of the U.S.-led are superior and unmatched, political backlash and anti-American sentiment has festered around the world over two non-soccer issues, ESPN reports:
In that vain, North American officials are stressing the role Mexico and Canada have in the bid despite the fact that the U.S. would host most of the games, if the bid is secured, ESPN reports.
"The partnership between the three countries is an extremely important part of our story, especially given what is going on in many parts of the world," Sunil Gulati, the former president of U.S. Soccer who is heading the North American bid, told ESPN.
The U.S. national team did not qualify for this year's World Cup in Russia.
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