TV Azteca, owner of Monarcas Morelia, paid out 124 shareholders of Club Atlas US$50 million to acquire the club, which for years had been struggling financially. 2026 World Cup Bid In September 2012, former Federación President Justino Compeán confirmed plans to bid. On 4 March 2016, Federación President Decio De Maria announced continued interest after the new FIFA president Gianni Infantino was elected in the wake of the Garcia Report corruption scandal. In April 2017, the Federación, with Canada Soccer Association and the United States Soccer Federation, announced a joint bid to host the World Cup. It was awarded on 13 June 2018; 134 votes versus the Morocco bid by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation with 65 votes. Mexico will host 10 matches, Canada 3 matches, and the United States 60 matches in 10 cities including the final. The shortlist of match cities was selected in June 2022: Guadalajara, Mexico City, & Monterrey. Chant Controversy Mexican Football fans are known for shouting out "Puto!", when the opposing team's goalkeeper is about to perform a goal kick, a custom that has repeatedly led to FIFA fining the Mexican Federation. In September 2019, the FMF launched a campaign to end the chant during matches, with Federation President Yon De Luisa and Liga MX President Enrique Bonilla announcing new league-wide protocols. The measures will allow officials to stop a match if the homophobic slur is chanted and play an announcement over the stadium loudspeakers as a warning to fans. In case of a second incident during a match, officials will have the option to order the teams back to their changing rooms for a period of 5 to 10 minutes. If the chant continues a third time, the local club will be sanctioned. The protocols were employed for the first time in the Liga MX on 26 October 2019 during the Apertura match between Atlas and visiting side Necaxa, in which the slur was heard up to six times. Referee Fernando Guerrero eventually ended the match before the completion of the six minutes of stoppage time. The protocols were used for the first time in the playoffs on 27 November, during the first-leg of the series between Club León and Monarcas Morelia. During the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals, fans chanted out the homophobic chant during both the semifinal against Costa Rica and the final match against the United States. This has led