Bidding for Fifa 2026 world cup delayed amid corruption

London, June 10: Authorities postponed the bidding process for the 2026 Fifa World Cup amid allegations around the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

"It was a nonsense to begin the process in the current climate," Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke was quoted as saying by BBC.

Voting to choose host for 2026 World Cup is due to take place in Kuala Lumpur in May 2017.

The US is frontrunners to organise the tournament, but Canada, Mexico and Colombia are also thought to be interested.

2018 and 2022 World Cups are scheduled to be organised in Russia and Qatar by a secret ballot of Fifa's 22 executive members in December 2010.

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But Swiss prosecutors are now investigating alleged financial irregularities surrounding the bidding process. Both Russia and Qatar have denied any wrongdoing.

Football's world governing body had planned to inform its member federations this week of the bidding schedule for 2026.

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