AUCKLAND: Oceania will be supporting the three-way CONCACAF bid to host the expanded World Cup finals in 2026 writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

David Chung, president of the 11-member minor among the six regional confederations, has made his position clear after FIFA accepted a congress agenda proposal which would hand the United States, Canada and Mexico a head start in the bidding process.

Chung’s position is understandable. Anything to resolve the 2026 hosting as soon as possible is in Oceania’s interest because of the apparent certainty  of one guaranteed place in the finals. In the past, for all the promises of promotion, Oceania has been stuck with a place ‘only’ in the intercontinenal play-

Anything which can seal the World Cup expansion and the Oceania slot guarantee is in the interests of both his confederation and his own leadership.

Chung, in Auckland, told local media: “it would make sense” that the 2026 World Cup returns to North America for the first time since 1994, when the United States hosted the tournament.

He added: These three nations have the appropriate infrastructure to host the event, extended to 48 teams and 80 games.” Hence the confederation wanted to support accelerated negotiations on the allocation of the World Cup.

Current rotation regulations exclude Europe and Asia from bidding. However they could join if the initial bid phase failed to come up with a solid bid from CONCACAF, Africa or South America.

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