Soccer rising to top in US, says Infantino

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he expects soccer to be the biggest sport in North America in time for the 2026 World Cup.

"By 2026 soccer or football will be the number one sport in this part of the world," Infantino boldly predicted.

The United States, which staged the tournament in 1994, will host games in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami and New York/New Jersey.

Mexico, which hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, will stage matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, while Canada, which is staging the men's event for the first time, will do so in Vancouver and Toronto.

"It was the most competitive process for a FIFA World Cup. We'll have the world coming here, we'll have an exciting tournament," Infantino said.

He added that no decision has been taken on where the final would take place.

Reuters