FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has defended the 2026 Bid Evaluation Task Force’s increased powers saying it is a “natural consequence” of “the enhanced” bidding process.
This follows reports of Africa’s opposition to the Task Force’s unchallenged authority to shoot down bid (s) before the actual vote on June 13th in Russia.
Morocco’s bid will be up against United States, Canada and Mexico joint bid.
The “five-men” Task Force’s core mandate is to ensure that the bidders pass eligibility criteria to stage the global showpiece before they can go to the vote.
It will carry out an assessment process and apportion marks to the bids with infrastructure raking up 70% of the total score.
The new criterion is seen to be targeting Morocco who will need to renovate existing stadiums and build nine new ones if they bag the hosting rights.
The United bid on the other hand has no major infrastructural challenge as the US, who plans to host 60 games, already have enough world class stadiums.
“FIFA has been heavily criticized for how it conducted the selection of hosts in the past; it was our obligation to learn from this and leave no room for any doubt or subjectively.
“This is why the rules of this process have been clear and objective from the beginning, and they include the highest standards in term of ethical conducts, participation and commitment to sustainability and human rights.
“In this context the role of the 2026 Bit Evaluation Task Force and the principle of eligibility criteria to host the biggest single sport event in the world in a natural consequence of the enhanced process.
“These are necessary steps to ensure we never go back to the ‘old ways’,”Infantino said.
The World Cup bidding system was redesigned in the reforms which followed scandals over the selection of Russia and Qatar to host the 2018 and 2022 finals.
In the previous format, only members of the defunct FIFA Executive took the crucial vote, however, the new reforms will see reintroduction of the old arrangement whereby all member associations except for bidders are eligible to vote.
It is reported that a row erupted during the last FIFA Council meeting in Bogota, Colombia with CAF boss Ahmad querying the new powers of the Task Force.
A vote was taken with 17 voting in favor while six African delegates voted against.
American Sunil Gulati and Canadian Victor Montagliani (FIFA vice president and CONCACAF boss) recused themselves while the eight European delegates abstained.
Infantino is seen to be leaning towards the United’s bid for its projected $300,000,000 windfall in revenue a perception he will have to deal will if Morocco loses with his re-election due next year.
He is also believed to be under immense pressure from the Americas to atone for US’s lose to Russia in the 2018 contest that was tainted by allegations of massive vote buying.
