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How the U.S., Canada and Mexico came together to bid to host the 2026 World Cup

NEW YORK - The United States, Mexico and Canada joined forces Monday on a bid to host the 2026 World Cup, and while representatives from each soccer federation saluted the cooperation in formulating an unprecedented proposal to stage the sport's spectacle, one country stood above.

If the regional effort wins out - and right now, there are no formidable opponents on the horizon - the United States would host 60 matches, including everything from the quarterfinals on, while the other two would stage 10 apiece.

Any complaints from Mexico or Canada about inequity faced this cold, hard fact: With its stadiums and infrastructure, the United States could have gone about it alone and won the bid.