The three North American countries have long been expected to make a joint bid, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino having encouraged multi-nation bids for an expanded 48-team World Cup.

Montagliani, a Canadian who was elected to oversee the North, Central America and Caribbean confederation last year, told The Guardian that plans to submit a bid to FIFA before the end of the year were on track.

"Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are aiming for a joint bid," he said. "The idea has been around for a while, discussions are continuing and it is a very exciting proposition if it comes to fruition.

"We have had nothing but positive remarks about it, and it is a very strong sign of what football can do to bring countries together."

Victor Montagliani said the three North American countries are on track to submit a combined 2026 hosting bid.

The countries' plans come amid U.S. President Donald Trump's call for a wall to be built along the Mexican border and signing of executive orders banning immigration and travel from multiple countries.

FIFA is scheduled to select a host in May 2020, before the next U.S. presidential election. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in February that "the World Cup cannot be played" in the U.S. if Trump's policies would stop players, fans and journalists from freely entering the country.

But Montagliani urged football's leaders to come together to overcome politics.

"It behooves football and leaders of football to deal with it and rise above it," he said of the issue of Trump's policies.

Montagliani also recently told The Associated Press that he believes all three countries should automatically qualify for the tournament if chosen as co-hosts.