FIFA presidential challenger Michael van Praag has labelled the decision to hand the 2026 World Cup rights in north America to Fox without a tender process as 'very strange ' . FIFA 's secretary general Jerome Valcke has admitted the world governing body 'did what we had to do ' to ensure there was no legal action from Fox over moving the Qatar 2022 tournament to the winter . Van Praag , who is one of three challengers to current president Sepp Blatter , said at UEFA 's congress in Vienna : ' I have read there was no tender and in 2015 that is not the way we work any more . It is very strange . ' FIFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag queried FIFA 's decision to hand FOX the 2026 World Cup rights . Jerome Valcke , FIFA 's secretary general , said FIFA 'did what they had to do ' with the rights . Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein ( left ) is another candidate standing against current ruler Sepp Blatter . Former Portugal international Luis Figo is the other final candidate hoping to replace Blatter . Van Praag , Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan and former Portugal international Luis Figo are standing against Blatter in the May 29 election . Blatter turned down a public televised debate and will not even address the UEFA Congress on Tuesday about his plans for a fifth term . Instead he will deliver his usual presidential address in the morning and the other candidates will speak at the end of congress . Figo told reporters in Vienna he also backed greater financial transparency in FIFA , plus wanted a wider debate on introducing video technology and sin-bins into football .
FIFA awarded 2026 World Cup right in north America without a process . Jerome Valcke said they did what they had to do to ensure no legal action . Michael van Praag says 'in 2015 that is not the way we work '