Mexico will bid on the 2026 World Cup with or without the USA
Mexico hasn't decided whether they will join the United States for a joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup yet, but that it will not affect whether they bid or not. The country is committed to entering the bidding to host the tournament and will do it regardless of whether they are with the Americans.
"I don't know [whether we would pursue a joint bid] but the rules are already open to it," Mexican federation president Decio de Maria told ESPN. "What was agreed upon makes the path perfectly clear.
"Mexico will be in the hunt to host the 2026 World Cup."
FIFA has yet to set all the rules for 2026 World Cup bidding and have not yet laid out a timeline, but they are expected to do so in the next year. When that happens and bidding is opened, Mexico will submit their bid. The only question is whether they will be bidding alone.
New FIFA president Gianni Infantino has long been in favor of joint bids. He believes it's a way to get the World Cup into more countries, both because two countries can host a single tournament and because it makes it possible for countries that aren't big enough to host alone to have the tournament on their soil. The United States and Mexico do not have the latter problem, but the former does apply to them and any other countries. The U.S. hasn't commented on a joint bid yet, saying they are waiting to see the rules that FIFA puts in place before deciding anything on a bid, with or without Mexico. The Mexicans have expressed interest in a potential joint bid, but also in hosting alone, not really expressing a preference.
In the meantime, Mexico will move ahead with a bid to host the U-20 World Cup as well.
"We have had a bid ready for that event for a long time and are just waiting for the process to open in 2019," de Maria said.
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