An initial shortlist of the cities who have been put forward will be released by the Bid Committee in the near future following the conclusion of a review process.

It is expected that between 20 and 25 will be included in the final bid to FIFA, due in March.

The list features 32 cities in the US, six in Canada and three in Mexico.

Cities interested in holding the opening match and the World Cup final must have stadiums where the capacity is at least 80,000.

Stadiums with a capacity of at least 40,000 will be considered for group matches.

Should the joint US, Canada and Mexico bid for the 2026 World Cup - the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams after FIFA agreed to expand the number of competing nations from 32 earlier this year - be successful, the majority of the matches would be held in the US.

Mexico and Canada will host just 10 games each, with the other 60 played in the US, including from the quarter-finals onwards.

The list includes three venues in Los Angeles - the Memorial Coliseum, the proposed new Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park and the Rose Bowl.

Stadiums in Las Vegas, New York, Miami, Orlando, Chicago and Houston, which has recently been devastated by severe flooding, have also submitted bids.

Edmonton, Montréal, Ottawa, Regina, Toronto and Vancouver are the six cities who have put themselves in contention from Canada.

Bids have also been submitted by the Mexican cities of Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey.

"The host cities will help define the united bid," United Bid Committee executive director John Kristick said.

"Each will offer the best facilities and infrastructure to stage the world’s biggest single-event sporting competition, the FIFA World Cup, and together they will play a key role in the development of the sport in North America. 

“We’re thrilled with the submissions that we have received, especially each city’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, and we look forward to bringing the best group of candidate host cities together for our official united bid.”

The joint effort from the US, Canada and Mexico is the favourite to host the tournament but is facing competition from Morocco after the African country submitted a last-minute bid.

Morocco were able to submit a candidacy for the 2026 World Cup after FIFA's Council rejected a proposal from Canada, Mexico and the US to fast-track their bid in May.

FIFA instead opted to keep the bidding window open for a further three months and gave other interested countries until August 11 to confirm their intention to bid.