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Diego Maradona.
- A "United 2026" bid from the United States, Mexico, and Canada recently won the right to host the World Cup in eight years' time.
- But former World Cup winner Diego Maradona says they do not deserve it.
- In a vicious attack laden with stereotypes, Maradona claims they have inferior national soccer teams and do not show the required passion.
Diego Maradona has launched a harsh attack on the countries that will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A joint bid from the United States, Canada, and Mexico won a landslide vote Wednesday to host the tournament.
The US is scheduled to host 60 of the 80 matches, with the remaining games split evenly between Canada and Mexico.
The news was welcomed by US President Donald Trump, but Maradona, a 1986 World Cup winner with the Argentina team, claims the hosts do not have the required passion to host the tournament.
In a rant laden with stereotypes, Maradona made the following statement to Telesur via ESPN.
"I don't like it," he said. "Mexico doesn't deserve it. [If] the Mexicans come up against Brazil or Germany… 'boom,' they're out."
He added: "There's no passion. The Canadians may be good skiers, and the Americans wanted to have four periods of 25 [minutes] for the advertising."
Maradona managed the Argentina national team during an unsuccessful period from 2008 to 2010.
He oversaw one of the team's biggest ever losses (a 6-1 defeat to Bolivia in 2009) and claims he was "sacked" shortly after the team was knocked out of the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal, losing to Germany by a 4-0 score.
Host cities for the 2026 World Cup could include New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Mexico City, and Toronto, amongst others.