Hot: World Cup 2026 could be 'split into three or seven pieces'

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is encouraging co-hosting the 2026 World Cup in three to four countries to ease financial concerns.

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On Thursday (February 16), FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he is encouraging 3 to 4 countries to co-host the 2026 World Cup.

“We encourage the co-hosting of the World Cup. We can have three or four countries carry out this project by hosting 4 or 5 stadiums in each country. That is the best idea to bring people closer together,” said the FIFA president.

“We will definitely encourage this. FIFA will show the rationale and we have to think about long-term development.”

FIFA President encourages co-hosting of World Cup.

The most typical example is the Maracana Stadium in Brazil. This is one of the venues renovated for the 2014 World Cup, however, this stadium has been abandoned in recent months. Currently, some doors and seats here are rusted and parts of the stadium are severely damaged.

Renovating the stadium just for the World Cup will cost a lot of money.

In history, FIFA has only once held the World Cup in two countries, in 2002. Japan and South Korea co-hosted the tournament and it was a great success.

The idea has been used at the European Championship (EURO). Belgium and the Netherlands co-hosted EURO 2000. Austria and Switzerland hosted in 2008 and Poland and Ukraine in 2012. The next EURO in 2020 is planned to be held in 13 cities in 13 different districts.

Immediately after Gianni Infantino's statements were made, Swedish Football Association president Karl-Erik Nilsson immediately responded to this proposal.

“It's a good idea. European countries have done it this way at the EUROs,” said Karl-Erik Nilsson.

“We are used to it and it works really well. It is a positive idea,” added Karl-Erik Nilsson.

According to TT&VH