CRI听力:FIFA General Secretary Announces Postpone of 2026 Bidding

FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke has announced the postponement of the bidding process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to ongoing bribery allegations.

"That we make sure that we protect this World Cup from the minute it goes through this bidding process to the final decision, to the commercialization and the implementation. We have to find the way - that I would say is the biggest reform FIFA has to think about, is how to protect and how to avoid that once again the question you asked is asked in the future. That's why we've been working on a level of regulations, level of request for the 2026 World Cup. There was the decision to allocate this World Cup in 2017 and to start the bidding process soon. "

FIFA is expected to explain the new bidding timetable and rules of the 2026 bidding process to its member federations this week.

The potential bidders of the 2026 World Cup include the USA, Mexico, Canada and countries from Europe.

Meanwhile, Valcke defends his role regarding an alleged USD$10 million bribe paid by South Africa during the 2010 bidding contest.

He reiterates the alleged bribe was a legitimate payment used for developing Caribbean football.

The international football governing body has reportedly handed over IT data to the Swiss authorities who are investigating the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.