The 2026 FIFA World Cup could be memorable as the U.S., Canada and Mexico announced a joint bid to host the event.

U.S. Men’s National Team coach Bruce Arena believes that event could be that U.S. fans would never forget.

In 1994, the U.S. was looked at as this emerging frontier in the game and FIFA wanted to bring the U.S. into the world’s game,” Arena said of the U.S. hosting in 1994. “In 2026, we’re going to be fully emerged into the game and a big player. I think 2026 will be the time

The U.S. Men’s soccer team practice with Coach Bruce Arena at StubHub Center in Carson. Photos by Brad Graverson/SCNG/01-11-17

where we are going to start talking about winning the World Cup. It wasn’t going to be in 1994. It wasn’t going to be in 2010. But 2026 could be our time.”

The U.S. advanced to the quarterfinals under Arena in 2002. They haven’t been beyond the round of 16 since then.

“We’re one of the host countries, which is an advantage, and think about where we are going to be in nine more years,” Arena said. “hink about where we were in 1994, ’98, 2000, keep going. And think about where we will be with even nine more years in our league, nine more years of players developing around the world and then playing the World Cup in our country. I think we’re going to be positioned to be a big player by 2026.”

One of the key positions that the U.S. will need to iron out ahead of the March World Cup qualifiers is in goal.

Tim Howard is recovering from an injury. Brad Guzan is now with Middlesbrough, but not receiving consistent playing time. Nick Rimando had a great showing in the January training camp and friendlies.

“Brad Guzan is a very experienced goalkeeper, and as we saw in the case of Nick Rimando in January camp that experience means a lot,” Arena said on a conference call last week. “Because they’re not getting games on a consistent basis doesn’t mean you can rule him out. I think Brad has shown enough that he’s still a strong candidate to be our number one goalkeeper.

“In the case of Tim Howard, he’s moving along pretty well. I believe he’s 12 weeks out of surgery and the expectation for him was that his full recovery would be between 12 and 16 weeks, so he’s on schedule to hopefully start the first week of the M.L.S. season. Having said that, it could be off a couple weeks and perhaps he won’t be a candidate for March. Right now, he’s still in the picture and that’s a positive as well.”

After the January camp and a pair of friendlies, U.S. Men’s National Team Bruce Arena and his coaching staff have their sights set on March and the highly critical World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama.

The U.S. will host Honduras, March 24 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose. The U.S. lost both of their opening qualifiers  during the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.

“Now the goal is to merge our players abroad with our domestic players and come up with the best roster for those games against Honduras and Panama,” Arena said during a conference call Thursday. “We’re working right now with a pool of approximately 40 players, give or take a few numbers either way, and we need to break it down to somewhat near 25 for when we report to San Jose.

“We understand how we’re going to play, we have a depth chart and we’re going to sit down and have some conversations to make sure the players understand what they’re going to do before they even get here, make sure they’re bought into that and then finalize the roster.”

U.S. men’s national team coach Bruce Arena took in a recent U-20 training session at StubHub Center.

The U-20’s are preparing for next month’s CONCACAF U-20 championship Costa Rica, which serves as the region’s qualifying tournament for the World Cup, starting in May.

Bruce Arena’s first game as U.S. men’s national soccer team coach is set for Jan. 29 against Serba at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

The game will kick off at 1 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Monday.

Arena is preparing for his second tenure as coach of the U.S., having replaced Jurgen Klinsmann in November.

The game will come at the end of the annual January camp.This is not a FIFA date. The U.S. resumes World Cup qualifying, in March with a home game against Honduras and a trip to Panama.