Mexico to bid for third World Cup, although face competition from US for 2026 tournament

Mexico last hosted the World Cup in 1986 when Argentina lifted the prize (GETTY IMAGES)

Mexico are preparing a bid to host the 2026 World Cup and are expecting tough competition from the United States.

If successful, it would be the third time the Central American country has hosted the tournament after staging the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.

No other country has ever hosted the finals three times.

Mexican football federation (FEMEXFUT) president Justino Compean told local media: "Mexico was a great host in 1970 and 1986, so we are indeed going to bid.

"We want to have the World Cup here again, but we know there will be strong competition from the United States.

"Our football infrastructure keeps growing and that means hosting the World Cup in Mexico is feasible."

Mexico initially put in a bid for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, which will be hosted by Russia and Qatar respectively, but pulled out of the running before the vote.

Compean said a World Cup in the US would still be good for Mexico.

He added: "We are three hours from the border and we have millions of our nationals living on the other side so it would be like we were a home team."

PA