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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. Wholesale Custom Jerseys . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Cheap Custom Jerseys China . 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LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings returned to their hard forechecking ways and got a needed win.Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking short-handed goal midway through the second period and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2.Derek Forbort and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and an assist and Devin Setoguchi and also scored for Los Angeles. Peter Budaj made 26 saves.After going winless in their last four games on the road, the Kings returned to Staples Center and found the key piece of their game that had eluded them on the road.For us, its the read, shutting down and getting in on the forecheck, Setoguchi said. When we forecheck well, thats usually when we create our opportunities.Darnell Nurse and Oscar Klefbom scored for the Oilers, who have now lost five straight games to fall to 2-7-1 since starting 7-1-0. Jonas Gustavsson made 21 saves.Oilers coach Todd McLellan said Carters short-handed goal hurt the most but Edmonton was ultimately doomed by another slow start.It seems to vary from night to night positionally, McLellan said. Whether its a D-man with a turnover, the forwards coughing something up and not getting in position at the right time. Its certainly something were aware of, were concerned with and trying to fix.Trailing 2-0 after the first period, the Oilers scored twice in the second to tie it before Carter scored at 9:06 of the middle period.Nurse made it 2-1 with a shot off the crossbar 3:44 into the second. A little under five minutes later, Klefbom tied it when he caught a pass in the slot and lifted an impressive backhand shot off the crossbar and behind Budaj.ddddddddddddBut just 34 seconds later, Carter won a faceoff and Toffoli led a 2-on-1 rush that resulted in Carters game-winner.We didnt get the save, but there were other mistakes on it, McLellan said. I thought it sucked the life out of us for a little bit.Setoguchi scored off a rebound with 6:45 left to play to make it 4-2, his third goal this season and third since the 2013-14.I didnt think we were that good in the first couple of periods, Setoguchi said. Then, in the third we had a couple good shifts back-to-back and we were able to score on one.Forbort scored his first goal of the season to put the Kings on the board 5:09 into the game. Toffoli then gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead a few minutes later when he tapped in a centering pass from Carter.There was a bunch of traffic down there, (Kyle) Clifford made a good play and I was lucky it went in, Forbort said. Game notes Kings C Anze Kopitar remained out for the third straight game with an upper-body injury. . Kings D Matt Greene was a healthy scratch. . Oilers D Dillon Simpson and C Anton Lander was a healthy scratch. . Forbort had his second multipoint game of the season and his career. . Carter had his team-high fourth multipoint game. . The Kings extended their home winning streak against the Oilers to 10 games. They havent lost to Edmonton at Staples Center since Nov. 3, 2011.UP NEXTOilers: At Dallas on Saturday in the finale of a three-game trip.Kings: Host New Jersey on Saturday. ' ' '