Fifa Explores U.S. Bid for 2038 World Cup

U.S. President Trump said during a Fox News interview that the United States should host the World Cup again while he remains in office. The comments came ahead of the 2026 tournament final and followed weeks of discussions among Fifa member associations about an American bid for 2038.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino told representatives of the governing body's 211 member associations at a meeting in New York that projected revenue for the current four-year cycle had risen from $11 billion to $15 billion. The increase stems mainly from higher ticketing and hospitality sales, which have exceeded $5 billion in the United States alone.

A senior hospitality partner said Fifa wants to return to the U.S. market quickly. The organization awarded English-language television rights for 2026 to Fox Sports without a bidding process after schedule changes for the Qatar tournament created conflicts with domestic sports calendars.

Fox paid $485 million for the rights, matching the amount paid for Qatar despite the addition of 40 matches and a home-soil event. Industry estimates indicate Fox will generate more than $1 billion in advertising revenue this summer.

Fifa statutes allow a North American bid for 2038 under confederation rotation rules after the 2030 and 2034 tournaments are assigned elsewhere. Concacaf has expressed reservations about another U.S.-only bid and has discussed joint proposals involving Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Mexico.

Trump stated that the United States would request the 2038 event immediately based on current revenue figures. Fifa's timeline for opening the bidding process remains undecided.