In an interview with The Associated Press, former United States goalkeeper Hope Solo said she hopes the U.S.-led North America bid for the 2026 World Cup fails.
“I can’t say it should be awarded to Morocco,” Solo told the AP. “But I don’t think it should go to the United States, and that’s hard to say.”
The former World Cup winner and Olympic champion has her issues with U.S. soccer—she was dismissed after 202 international appearances following an outburst at the Olympics in 2016—and has been outspoken about the U.S. women’s team receiving equal pay and treatment.
In addition to that issue, Solo also takes exception with the way Major League Soccer awards its franchises and wants to see the league open itself up to more competition.
“That is not helping the sport in America,” Solo said. “I want to see promotion-relegation in the NASL and the MLS. Right now it’s true, you have rich ownership groups owning MLS teams and they’re only getting richer and they’re alienating everybody else.”
The vote on the 2026 World Cup bid going to North America or Morocco will take place when up to 207 soccer federations convene next Wednesday in Moscow. If they choose “none of the above,” bidding will be reopened.
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