CARDIFF, Wales (AP) FIFA's credibility is at stake over the 2026 World Cup and bids must be ''bullet-proof,'' new President Gianni Infantino said Friday after a German investigation could not rule out that vote-buying secured the 2006 tournament for Germany.
Despite lawyers finding no conclusive evidence of wrongdoing, the 361-page report left open the possibility of corruption by Germany's bid team and detailed irregular payments linking 2006 World Cup officials to FIFA.
Every World Cup since 1998 has now seen bids for world soccer's showpiece event tainted by allegations of wrongdoing. Infantino is trying to clean up FIFA after years of scandals, while pledging to start the 2026 World Cup bidding contest in his first three months in power.