FIFA looking to fast track North American World Cup bid

FIFA is hoping to fast track the approval system for the North American joint bid for the 2026 World Cup.

With a yet-to-be opposed bid from the United States, Canada, and Mexico tabled, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino is hoping to accelerate a "bulletproof" process while avoiding prior instances of voting scandal.

"It’s an interesting, original proposal and we will discuss it tomorrow at the council and present the recommendation to the congress," Infantino told the Associated Press Monday during the start of FIFA meetings in Bahrain.

It is not expected that there will be any opposition to Infantino's plans at either the council or congress, avoiding previous claims of bribery related to voting for potential World Cup hosts.

"We have seen in the past many questions marks around bidding processes," Infantino said. "So we have to make sure we have to make sure this process is absolutely bulletproof."

As it stands, the expanded tournament is set to grow to 80 matches, with the United States slated to play host 60 times, and Canada and Mexico providing the venue 10 times each. The U.S. will also host every match from the quarter-finals on, though the three-headed approach could be limited to just the 1994 proprietors if the FIFA Congress in June 2018 finds Canada or Mexico unsuitable.

The North American bid is anticipating the go ahead on Thursday from the FIFA Congress in hopes of moving up the scheduled evaluation process and May 2020 approval date.

Even without opposition for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA's top administrator, Fatma Samoura, has highlighted the value of transparency in light of past bribery that tarnished Sepp Blatter's reign with the football governing body.

"What the administration is concerned about is that the bidding process is free, inclusive, and transparent," Samoura said. "We will make sure that the highest level of standards are respected."