Alexi Lalas backs US to host 2026 WC

The United States is the best candidate to host the 2026 World Cup, according to former international defender Alexi Lalas.

FIFA is looking for a fresh start after being involved in several corruption scandals and undergoing new presidential elections, which saw Gianni Infantino take over from Sepp Blatter. The organisation recently announced new rules for countries wishing to host the World Cup. The selection process for the 2018 and 2022 world cups have already been concluded and they have been awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively. Interested parties will have to undergo rigorous consultation, campaigning, and evaluation processes.

The decision on the host nation for the 2026 World Cup will not be announced until 2020. This gives very little time for developing nations to make substantial changes to their infrastructure. North America is expected to be given the right to host the tournament for the first time since the early 90s. Since the United States has already excellent infrastructure in terms of transport and connectivity, the nation will have to just focus on improving aspects like stadiums. The growth in MLS has also led to substantial improvement in stadium infrastructure. For all these reasons, the United States now looks like the best possible candidate for the World Cup, according to Lalas.

"It's not even a battle, it's nothing: it has to be in the United States.Nobody will do it better, it will make the most money in the history of World Cups, it will be coming to a culture that loves soccer and it just makes all the sense in the world.No, why should we share it with Canada or anybody else when we can host it just as well by ourselves? It's nothing against them -- we're a benevolent country -- but in this case I think it should be the United States and the United States alone," said Lalas.