World Cup 2026: Why Oceania backing USA-led North American bid is good news – CBS sports.com (blog)

It was just over a week ago that the soccer federations of the United States, Mexico and Canada announced their bid to host the 2026 World Cup . And while it seems that the trio is the clear favorite to win the bid, we haven't heard much from other confederations as to what they think of the CONCACAF proposal.

Well, we now know at least what one federation thinks. Oceania's soccer federation supports the bid, according to the Associated Press. Here's what David Chung, president of the Oceania football confederation and FIFA vice president had to say, via the AP:

Oceania's FIFA vice president, David Chung, says "it makes sense on a rotational basis" for the 2026 edition to return to North America for the first time since the U.S.-hosted 1994 tournament.

And since Africa, South America, Europe and Asia have all hosted since the U.S. last did in 1994, it appears that it is the region's time and Oceania sees that. It's also worth noting that CONCACAF is speeding up the bidding process for the first ever 48-team World Cup, and Chung is also on board with the confederation's rationale.

Oceania says it also agrees the bid should have "an exclusive period of negotiation" with FIFA for the next year.

FIFA's member federations will vote on May 11 to possibly give the North Americans a March 2018 deadline to show their bid is enough to host, and having the backing of Oceania certainly helps.

Read this article:

World Cup 2026: Why Oceania backing USA-led North American bid is good news - CBS sports.com (blog)