The U.S. moved a big step closer to landing the 2026 World Cup during last week’s FIFA Congress in Bahrain. But at the same time, the organization that governs world soccer may have taken a step back from its pledge of transparency and reform.
Although the ruling council voted to extend the bidding process for the 2026 tournament for three months to allow rival nations to contest the U.S.-led offer, FIFA’s full membership voted overwhelmingly to fast-track the North American proposal. That means the bid for the U.S., Mexico and Canada to share the 2026 World Cup could officially be approved in June 2018, two years ahead of schedule.