Hosts likely won’t need to qualify for 48-team tournament

The 2026 World Cup has been awarded to Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, now takes over the tournament, working with the three countries.

Here are some questions surrounding the showcase:

IS CANADA GUARANTEED THREE HOST CITIES?

Edmonton (Commonwealth Stadium), Montreal (Olympic Stadium) and Toronto (BMO Field) are among the 23 candidate host cities in the North American bid book with FIFA expected to select up to 16 cities. Canadian officials say they will push to keep all three of their host cities. The bid group has been working under the premise of three cities in each of Canada and Mexico and 10 in the U.S.

Bid officials are keen on the idea of having three games back-to-back-to-back on the opening day of the tournament, using BMO Field, Mexico City ’s Azteca Stadium and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

That could mean more than 220,000 spectators on Day 1, given the bid group’s stadium capacity estimates include expanding BMO Field to 45,500.

WILL CANADA GET ENTRY AS CO-HOST?

There has been no formal announcement yet that the three co-host countries will skip qualifying, as has been the tournament custom. But all signs point to yes, especially with the field expanded to 48 teams from 32. Peter Montopoli, general secretary of the Canadian Soccer Association and Canada’s bid director, says that decision will be made by FIFA, possibly not until 2021 or 2022. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, a Canadian who was a key player in the successful bid, should help ease the way for the co-hosts.

CONCACAF got 31/2 entries (three direct slots and one inter-confederation playoff slot) for the 2018 World Cup, which has 32 entries. The top three teams in the final round of qualifying — Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama — booked their ticket to Russia while No. 4 Honduras lost an interconfederation playoff with Australia.

HOW MANY GAMES WILL CANADA GET?

The blueprint calls for Canada and Mexico to get 10 each with the U.S. hosting 60, including all games from the quarterfinals on. U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro defended that split, calling it “the most optimal mix of cities and matches.” But FIFA could well make changes to that breakdown.

WHEN WILL THE SCHEDULE BE OUT?

The full field likely won’t be known until the last week of November 2025 with the final draw expected in the first week of December 2025. A match schedule, with venues but not teams, likely will be out earlier, perhaps late 2024 or 2025.

WHAT SURFACE WILL IT BE PLAYED ON?

Montopoli said it will be 100 per cent natural grass, meaning temporary surfaces will have to be installed in stadiums with artificial turf. Eleven of the 23 stadiums under consideration — including Commonwealth Stadium and Olympic Stadium — have artificial surfaces. Training sites would also have to go to a grass surface.

WILL CO-HOSTS STAGE A CONFEDERATIONS CUP?

FIFA is looking at changes to the Confederations Cup, a tournament that serves as a precursor to the World Cup. So that’s up in the air.