US interested in hosting 2038 World Cup - Giuliani

June 26, 2026

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, has indicated that the United States may pursue hosting the men's 2038 World Cup, which represents the next available bidding opportunity. His comments follow the US co-hosting the expanded 48-team 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, with FIFA contemplating a further expansion to 64 teams that America could accommodate. The current World Cup has been marred by controversies including travel advisories from rights groups concerned about immigration enforcement, increased travel costs, and visa denials for Iranian coaching staff amid US-Iran tensions.

Who is affected

The United States, Canada, and Mexico (2026 co-hosts)
Andrew Giuliani (White House World Cup task force executive director)
Rights groups (over 120 organizations issuing travel advisories)
Fans, players, journalists, and visitors to the US
Iran's backroom staff (denied US entry visas)
Iranian national team (facing travel restrictions)
US President Donald Trump

What action is being taken

The US is hosting 78 of the 104 matches in the current summer World Cup
Iran's team has switched their base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico
FIFA is considering expanding the World Cup format to 64 teams

Why it matters

This matters because it demonstrates the intersection of global sports with political tensions and immigration policy, potentially affecting the US's reputation as a host nation. The country's existing infrastructure provides significant cost advantages over other potential hosts, requiring only a couple billion dollars compared to tens of billions for nations building from scratch. The controversies surrounding the current tournament, including travel advisories and visa denials, could impact future bidding decisions and the US's ability to present itself as a welcoming host for international sporting events.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article beyond Giuliani's comment that they need to "get through this World Cup on 19 July before we make our pitch for 2038 or other ones."

Read full article from source: BBC