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ZURICH -- North America became a stronger favorite to host an expanded World Cup in 2026 after FIFA essentially barred European countries from bidding on Friday.The FIFA Council agreed that UEFA and Asian confederation members should not bid again so soon after Russia hosts the 2018 World Cup and Qatar has the 2022 tournament.That has changed the landscape (of the 2026 contest) a little bit, said U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, a FIFA Council member.FIFA said Europe would be put on standby only if none of the received bids fulfill the strict technical and financial requirements.Thats unlikely if the United States bids as expected, either alone or with Canada and Mexico.FIFA favors co-hosting among regional neighbors, and a three-way bid could be more popular if the tournament grows to 40 or 48 teams.A decision will be made on whether to expand the tournament on Jan. 9-10 when the FIFA Council next meets in Zurich.FIFA has targeted 2020 for its member federations to choose the 2026 host.FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was elected this year after promising voters a 40-team World Cup, would not declare North America as the most likely host region.It is still too early to say that, Infantino said. We hope we have many bidders and we can choose ... who the best bidder is.Still, the North American regional body CONCACAF has long been seen as the natural host for 2026 and its claim got stronger Friday. The United States was the last country in the region to stage the tournament in 1994.The answer is `Sure, it would be silly to say anything but that, Gulati said of a contest that could also include bids from Africa and South America.CONCACAF lost out when a hosting rotation system approved during Sepp Blatters presidency was abandoned before its scheduled turn in 2018 came around.Back then, FIFA preferred to block continents from two World Cup bidding contests after hosting, but when statutes were updated in recent reforms the rule said only one tournament had to be skipped.Gulati said the new clarity in bidding would encourage an entry from the United States.We now know some of the rules, said Gulati, FIFAs top American official. We will look at it. We have great relationships with Canada and Mexico. We also have a country with 320 million people that has hosted a World Cup and with a lot of terrific stadiums and great infrastructure.A U.S.-hosted World Cup would likely set attendance records -- in 1994 there were 3.59 million total fans and an average of 69,000 per match.Infantino said Friday that a bigger World Cup -- potentially of 48 teams and 80 matches with an opening playoff round -- would be for sporting reasons, not a financial or political decision.Still, he foresaw more revenue from FIFAs current $5 billion per tournament, which could help increase the funding he promised to FIFA members.Whatever additional costs there will be, will be largely outweighed by additional revenues, obviously. Which means we are in a comfortable position, Infantino said.Other decisions Friday:- FIFAs 2017 congress will be held in Manama, Bahrain -- the home city of FIFA vice president Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain -- on May 11. The original venue of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pulled out citing problems with issuing visas to delegates.- The rebranded FIFA annual awards ceremony, formerly known as the Ballon dOr, will still be held in Zurich on Jan. 9. FIFA had explored a move to London.- The dates of CONCACAFs Gold Cup tournament in 2017 have been modified. It will kick off two days earlier, end four days earlier and be played July 7-26. Cheap Yeezy 350 v2 Womens . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Supreme Black/Red . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/cheap-yeezy-boost-350-v2-semi-frozen-yellow-raw-steel-red-162.html . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Cheap Yeezy 350 v2 White . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Fake Yeezy 350 Citrin . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. SHANGHAI -- Hideki Matsuyama waved to a cheering crowd from the top balcony of a corporate suite over the 18th green at Sheshan International, where moments earlier he finished up a thorough beating of a world-class field in the HSBC Champions.He never felt higher. His game never felt better.And the 24-year-old Japanese star can only hope that hes just getting started.Matsuyama never gave anyone a chance Sunday, closing with a 6-under 66 for a seven-shot victory that made him the first Asian to win a World Golf Championships event since the series began in 1999.And it was only fitting that he won at the event billed as Asias major.He was brilliant, said defending champion Russell Knox, who played in the last group and was along for the ride. No weaknesses the last two days. He drove the ball well and far, and his iron play was very good. And he made it look very easy.The only trouble came when it no longer mattered. Matsuyama realized that one last birdie would give him 30 for the week, so he went for the green on the par-5 18th and his shot bounced out of a bush and tumbled into the water. No problem. He took his drop in the rough, hit wedge to 18 feet and made one last putt to extend a streak of playing the final 45 holes without a bogey.No special number, he said of his goal to make 30 birdies. I made 19 birdies the first few days, so then I was thinking, `Well, if I make 11 more, I can win. So that was kind of my goal was to get to 30 birdies.He really didnt need any of them.Matsuyama finished at 23-under 265, one short of the tournament record that Dustin Johnson set three years ago. He won by seven over British Open champion Henrik Stenson (65) and Daniel Berger (69).One week after becoming the first Japanese player since Jumbo Ozaki in 1998 to reach the top 10 in the world, the victory moved Matsuyama up to No. 6.There was one moment early in the round when it looked as though there would be a two-shot swing would have cut his deficit to two shots over Berger. Matsuyama made his 15-foot par putt on the par-3 fourth hole, hit his approach to 4 feet on the next hole for birdie and was on his way. Three straight birdies on the back nine, including a 9-iron out of the rough on the tough 15th that settled 3 feet away, turned this into a rout.ddddddddddddIve never won by that many even in Japan, Matsuyama said.It was the largest margin of victory in the HSBC Champions, and the largest in a WGC event since Tiger Woods won by seven in the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational.He won for the 10th time in his career, and his third PGA Tour-sanctioned victory tied him with Shigeki Maruyama for most by a Japanese player. Matsuyama won the Memorial in 2014, and he won the Phoenix Open in February in a playoff over Rickie Fowler.Shigeki Maruyama is a good friend of mine, and he always said that I was going to pass his records, Matsuyama said. But at least Ive tied him now. That was a great honor, because I have great respect for him.The next stop is a major. Y.E. Yang at the 2009 PGA Championship is the only Asian to win a mens major.Winning today I feel has got me closer to being able to compete a lot better in the major tournaments, and so my next goal is, of course, to win a major, he said. And Im going to do all that I can to prepare well for that.In the last three weeks since he finished his best PGA Tour season with fifth place at the Tour Championship, Matsuyama won the Japan Open, was runner-up in Malaysia to Justin Thomas in the CIMB Classic, and then won his biggest tournament yet.Hideki played just unbelievable and it was a pleasure to watch. You can learn a lot from watching Hideki play, Berger said. Hes struck it well. Hes putted well. Hes chipped well. Hes done everything well, and thats why hes won by so many.Knox, playing in the final group for the second straight week, closed with a 74 and tied for ninth.Rory McIlroy closed with a 66 to share fourth with Bill Haas (69). McIlroy said he would skip the Turkish Airlines Open next week, presumably because of security concerns over recent weeks, which makes him a long shot for the Race to Dubai on the European Tour.Masters champion Danny Willett remains in front. Stensons 20-foot birdie putt on the last hole gave him a share of second, which at least helped him close the gap. He also moved up one spot to No. 4, knocking Jordan Spieth down one notch. ' ' '