North American bid for 2026 World Cup backed by Oceania

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) – The United States, Canada and Mexico bid to co-host the 2026 World Cup is supported by the 11-nation Oceania soccer confederation.

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

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The 211 FIFA member federations can decide on May 11 to give the North American neighbors a March 2018 deadline without rivals to show their bid is technically sound.

The bid launched this month is currently FIFA's only realistic option for the expanded 48-team World Cup in 2026. FIFA rules bar European and Asian members from bidding.

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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.