FIFA to name 2026 host nation in May 2020

FIFA announced on Tuesday that the country that will host the 2026 World Cup will be chosen in May 2020.

Countries will have to present their candidacies before the end of December 2018, the world football body said in a statement after a council meeting in Mexico City. The bidding process will take place in four steps, with a consultation phase between now and May 2017, 'enhanced phases for bid preparation' between June 2017-December 2018, and an evaluation of candidacies between January 2019-February 2020.

The consultation phase will look at the inclusion of human rights requirements, sustainable even management and environmental protection, among other things. A decision on the number of teams and format of the 2026 World Cup will be decided in October 2016, well before the host is chosen.