In a 35-page document published yesterday, FIFA claimed they had made the decision as part of a "transparent" process for the 2026 World Cup.

The organisation also confirmed the process will be scrutinised by an independent audit company.

The guide to the bidding process for the 2026 event documents information on the bid rules of conduct, key principles, the evaluation process and criteria, timelines as well as requirements relating to Government support and compliance.

The rules of conduct include a series of core ethical principles, such as a prohibition on “inappropriate gifts” and barring collusion between Member Associations.

Funding of development projects and friendly matches are also outlined in the document.

These particular elements were part of the controversial bidding race for the 2018 and 2022 competitions, won by Russia and Qatar respectively.

Russia and Qatar were awarded the respective events at the same time in December 2010 but the bids were plagued by allegations of corruption.

The Garcia Report, eventually released in full by FIFA in June, seemed to clear both countries of any severe wrongdoing but accused some bidders of unethical behaviour.

World football's governing body revealed the joint effort from the United States, Canada and Mexico and sole rival Morocco would be subjected to a more stringent and important evaluation process.

A 2026 Bid Evaluation Task Force has been established by FIFA to inspect bids for the tournament.

Should a candidate not meet the criteria, which include set requirements regarding stadiums, projected costs and accomodation, they risk being excluded from the race, FIFA warned.

The reports from the newly-created Task Force will be serve as the basis of the evaluation by the FIFA Council, who will shortlist the bids to be put forward to a vote at the Congress in June.

The host of the 2026 World Cup is due to be announced at the governing body's Congress in Moscow on June 13.

If neither the joint North American effort or bid from Morocco is chosen, a new process will then be launched, with a host confirmed at the 2020 Congress.

The bids from the US, Canada and Mexico and Morocco must be submitted to FIFA by March 16.

"The process to select the host - or hosts - of the first 48-team World Cup must not be open to one iota of doubt," an opening message from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura said.

"It is FIFA's responsibility towards the world of football to conduct these bidding and selection procedures in an ethical, transparent, objective and unbiased way.

"By the time we announce who will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, every football fan around the globe should be able to know why that choice has been made."