Pirate Galaxy » Gribbles torrid pace on Sunday.It was definitely im

ZURICH -- North America became a stronger favorite to host an expanded World Cup in 2026 after FIFA essentially barred European countries from bidding on Friday.The FIFA Council agreed that UEFA and Asian confederation members should not bid again so soon after Russia hosts the 2018 World Cup and Qatar has the 2022 tournament.That has changed the landscape (of the 2026 contest) a little bit, said U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, a FIFA Council member.FIFA said Europe would be put on standby only if none of the received bids fulfill the strict technical and financial requirements.Thats unlikely if the United States bids as expected, either alone or with Canada and Mexico.FIFA favors co-hosting among regional neighbors, and a three-way bid could be more popular if the tournament grows to 40 or 48 teams.A decision will be made on whether to expand the tournament on Jan. 9-10 when the FIFA Council next meets in Zurich.FIFA has targeted 2020 for its member federations to choose the 2026 host.FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was elected this year after promising voters a 40-team World Cup, would not declare North America as the most likely host region.It is still too early to say that, Infantino said. We hope we have many bidders and we can choose ... who the best bidder is.Still, the North American regional body CONCACAF has long been seen as the natural host for 2026 and its claim got stronger Friday. The United States was the last country in the region to stage the tournament in 1994.The answer is `Sure, it would be silly to say anything but that, Gulati said of a contest that could also include bids from Africa and South America.CONCACAF lost out when a hosting rotation system approved during Sepp Blatters presidency was abandoned before its scheduled turn in 2018 came around.Back then, FIFA preferred to block continents from two World Cup bidding contests after hosting, but when statutes were updated in recent reforms the rule said only one tournament had to be skipped.Gulati said the new clarity in bidding would encourage an entry from the United States.We now know some of the rules, said Gulati, FIFAs top American official. We will look at it. We have great relationships with Canada and Mexico. We also have a country with 320 million people that has hosted a World Cup and with a lot of terrific stadiums and great infrastructure.A U.S.-hosted World Cup would likely set attendance records -- in 1994 there were 3.59 million total fans and an average of 69,000 per match.Infantino said Friday that a bigger World Cup -- potentially of 48 teams and 80 matches with an opening playoff round -- would be for sporting reasons, not a financial or political decision.Still, he foresaw more revenue from FIFAs current $5 billion per tournament, which could help increase the funding he promised to FIFA members.Whatever additional costs there will be, will be largely outweighed by additional revenues, obviously. Which means we are in a comfortable position, Infantino said.Other decisions Friday:- FIFAs 2017 congress will be held in Manama, Bahrain -- the home city of FIFA vice president Sheik Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain -- on May 11. The original venue of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pulled out citing problems with issuing visas to delegates.- The rebranded FIFA annual awards ceremony, formerly known as the Ballon dOr, will still be held in Zurich on Jan. 9. FIFA had explored a move to London.- The dates of CONCACAFs Gold Cup tournament in 2017 have been modified. It will kick off two days earlier, end four days earlier and be played July 7-26.LaDainian Tomlinson Youth Jersey . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Chuma Edoga Jets Jersey . 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Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR.JACKSON, Miss. -- Cody Gribble and his caddie talked a ton during the final nine holes of his impressive run to a Sanderson Farms Championship victory. Very little was about golf.They talked about Gribbles Texas Longhorns and their big win in football over Baylor on Saturday. They talked about the Chicago Cubs and the World Series. They discussed their upcoming trip to Las Vegas.Anything to keep Gribbles mind off the incredible run he was making.I knew I was in a good spot and I knew I was playing well, Gribble said. Its hard not to sit there and look at the scoreboard, look where youre at and how youre doing.The small talk worked. Gribble finished with a 7-under 65 -- which included five birdies on a spectacular back nine -- to turn a tight fight into a four-stroke victory and his PGA Tour title.The 26-year-old rookie started the day a stroke behind playing partners Chris Kirk and Luke List.Gribble had two birdies on the front nine to stay in contention, then ran off birdies on Nos. 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17. He finished at 20-under 268.Gribble looked as if he might have trouble just making the cut at the Country Club of Jackson after an opening 73. He bounced back with a 63 in the second round to jump into contention -- one shy of the course record -- and followed it up with a 67 on Saturday.On Sunday, Gribble started slowly, but picked up steam on an unseasonably hot day in Jackson where the temperature pushed 90 degrees. He made a short birdie putt on 11 and then hit a difficult downhhill 18-foot putt for birdie on 13.ddddddddddddThen he was rolling, making three more birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to pull away.Kirk and List each shot 70 to tie for second with Englands Greg Owen (68).Cody played unbelievable, List said. He definitely deserved to win. I was happy to scramble around and get a couple under out of it.Kirk won the tournament in 2011, back when it was called the Viking Classic and played at nearby Annandale Golf Club. He was in contention again at the Country Club of Jackson after shooting a 65 in the third round, but nobody was able to keep up with Gribbles torrid pace on Sunday.It was definitely impressive watching Cody play that back nine, Kirk said. I wish that I could have given him a little better run. I was just a little bit off, I guess.Gribble played in college at Texas and is the second member of the schools 2012 national championship team to win a PGA Tour event. The other is Jordan Spieth.Gribble obviously has a way to go to match the accomplishments of Spieth, who is among the worlds best players, but the Sanderson Farms win is certainly a good start. He earned $756,000, 300 FedExCup points and exempt status on tour through the 2018-19 season.The four-stroke win was the second largest in tournament history, trailing Frank Conners five-stroke win in 1988.-----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP ' ' '