FIFA will choose 2026 World Cup host in May 2017

FIFA has opened bidding to host the 2026 World Cup and that means the United States finally has the green light to get going. The host of the tournament will be announced at FIFA's annual congress in May 2017.

CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb has said that he believes it is the confederations turn to host the World Cup. They have not done so since the U.S. hosted in 1994. Since then, every other confederation has hosted at least once and by 2026, Asia will have hosted two times, while Europe will have hosted three times.

It isn't a foregone conclusion that the U.S. will be CONCACAF's choice to host, or even that they will bid. Mexico and Canada have both expressed interest in hosting and are expected to explore hosting. Plus, the U.S. has said that they will not bid again until there are changes to the process and while FIFA has promised changes after their independent investigation -- which was so badly bastardized that their own investigator resigned -- there have yet to be any changes made.

FIFA has not yet outlined the bid process or criteria. All that has been determined is that the host will be chosen in May 2017, but they have determined that Fox will broadcast the event. FIFA awarded the networks the rights to the 2026 tournament, reportedly to avoid a lawsuit for moving the 2022 World Cup. There is some belief that they do not want the U.S. to host in 2026 now because they already sold the rights at a bargain price and the rights for a U.S.-hosted World Cup would go for massive money if put up for bid.