The US World Cup bid for either 2018 or 2022 received a boost today, as Mexico withdrew from the running. Mexican federation President Decio de Maria chalked up the decision to economic factors, including the considerable investment hosting the tournament would require.

Mexico's withdrawal leaves the United States as the only CONCACAF nation bidding for a World Cup, which should work to their benefit. The confederation's leadership will no longer be split as to which bid to back, meaning that the powerful voices in FIFA's hierarchy representing the region should be fully behind the US bid.

The US is now in competition with Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands (joint bid), England, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Spain and Portugal (joint bid), Qatar, and Russia for one of the two World Cups up for grabs.

The American bid was already strong, and no nation in those believed to be leaders for 2022 can match the US in stadiums or infrastructure; Mexico falling out only makes the bid stronger, as CONCACAF can now concentrate their efforts in one direction.

What do you make of Mexico's decision to remove themselves from consideration?