President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he wants the United States to host a future World Cup tournament as the sole host nation, explicitly excluding current co-hosts Canada and Mexico. Speaking at a FIFA World Cup reception held at Trump Tower in New York, the president urged federation officials to return the tournament to the U.S. in the future.
You should choose the United States of America again,
Trump said during the event, which took place ahead of Sunday’s final match between Spain and Argentina. This time we will leave Canada and Mexico out.
The president suggested that selecting the U.S. for a future tournament could help alleviate international tensions, remarking that FIFA should pick somebody else for the next one and that will take some of the anger, hatred and steam out of everyone.
Bidding Context and FIFA’s Upcoming Schedule
The current 2026 World Cup is the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and matches hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The next available tournament for bidding is the 2038 World Cup. According to regulations, regions that have hosted recently must sit out, but countries from North America and Oceania will be eligible to submit bids for the 2038 cycle. The international hosting landscape for the coming years is already set:
- 2030: A six-country arrangement including Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
- 2034: Saudi Arabia.
During the reception, Trump also revealed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously suggested the possibility of the U.S. and China co-hosting a tournament, with the president quipping that players would have a nice short flight in between games.
Relationship Between Trump and FIFA Leadership
The president’s remarks followed his increasing involvement in World Cup storylines, specifically regarding his relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. During the reception, Trump praised Infantino for his handling of a controversial disciplinary decision involving U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.
Earlier in the tournament, Balogun received a red card during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would have triggered an automatic one-match suspension. Trump acknowledged that he personally called Infantino to lodge a complaint regarding the ruling. FIFA subsequently suspended the ban, allowing Balogun to play in the following match against Belgium—a move that sparked worldwide criticism.
I said, Gianni, I’d like to make a recommendation. Let the guy in the game,
Trump said at the reception. You made another great decision. You’ll never get credit for that.
The U.S. team was ultimately eliminated in a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
World Cup Final and Tournament Legacy
As the 2026 tournament concludes, the White House confirmed that President Trump will attend Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. While Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is also expected to attend, Argentine President Javier Milei will not be present.
FIFA officials have characterized the 2026 event as a major success, citing sold-out stadiums for the 102 matches played to date. Infantino lauded the tournament’s ability to unite people, telling those at the reception, The American dream, Mr. President, came to reality. We united the world.
To commemorate the tournament, FIFA announced that the winning team will receive championship rings, a tradition adapted from American leagues like the NFL and NBA. Each ring will be part of a limited edition of 2,026 pieces, with 30 presented to the winning team and the remainder made available to fans. Following the final, the winning captain and coach will receive temporary versions of the rings, with custom-fitted versions to be presented at a later date.
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