Donald Trump wants the World Cup back in the United States as quickly as possible, but FIFA’s existing plans mean the country could face a wait of at least 12 years.
The US president used the closing days of the 2026 tournament to call for another American bid after record crowds attended the competition across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Trump also made clear that he would prefer the United States to host alone next time, leaving its two North American partners out of the arrangement.
However, he did not ask FIFA to stage another World Cup within the next two years, as some social media accounts have claimed. Trump said the United States would begin pursuing another tournament “immediately”, referring to the timing of a future bid rather than the date of the competition itself.
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Trump tells FIFA to choose the US again
Trump discussed another American World Cup while appearing alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino at a reception in New York before the final.
“I say, what we should do is, you should choose the United States of America again,” Trump said.
“This time we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out.”
Trump suggested FIFA could soften any opposition to a second American tournament by simultaneously identifying a different host for the following edition.
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“You choose us, but you pick somebody else for the next one, and that will take some of the anger, hatred, and steam out of everyone,” he added.
The comments were made after the United States staged the majority of matches at the first World Cup hosted by three countries.
According to FIFA’s official review of the 2026 tournament, a record 6,810,966 spectators attended the 104 matches played across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
‘We will be requesting it again immediately’
Trump repeated his proposal during a Fox Sports interview before Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final.
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“I had a great idea for Gianni: You have to do two countries,” Trump said.
“Announce us again next time, and then announce another country after that. It’ll take out some of the anger and the shock.”
He then clarified that the United States intended to move quickly in seeking another tournament.
“I think it’s a great idea. Based on the numbers, we will be requesting it again immediately,” Trump said.
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“We have to do this again, and we have to do it while I’m around. You hear that, Gianni?”
As quoted by the Associated Press in its coverage of the World Cup final, Trump was calling for another bid to be launched immediately. He was not requesting that a second tournament be organised within two years.
The distinction is significant. Organising a World Cup requires years of bidding, stadium evaluations, commercial planning and negotiations between FIFA and national governments.
The next two hosts have already been chosen
Even an immediate American application could not bring the tournament back to the country in the near future.
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The 2030 World Cup has already been awarded to Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will each stage one opening match as part of the competition’s centenary celebrations.
Saudi Arabia will then host the 2034 edition.
According to FIFA’s announcement confirming the hosts, both decisions were formally approved by the organisation’s member associations in December 2024.
Those arrangements cannot simply be displaced by a request from the White House. Any future US bid would have to enter a formal FIFA process once applications for another available tournament are invited.
The earliest realistic opportunity is 2038
The 2038 World Cup is therefore the first realistic target for the United States.
FIFA has not yet opened the official bidding process or published its complete eligibility rules for that edition. Under the confederation-rotation approach used when determining the 2030 and 2034 hosts, however, countries from Concacaf and Oceania would be among the likely eligible candidates.
Sports Illustrated’s analysis of Trump’s proposal also identified 2038 as the earliest edition for which the United States could realistically apply.
A successful bid would mean the country hosting two men’s World Cups within 12 years, something that has never previously happened.
The United States staged the competition alone in 1994 before returning as the principal host in 2026. Mexico became the first country to host matches at three men’s World Cups, having previously staged the entire tournament in 1970 and 1986.
Trump may not be around to oversee it
Trump’s declaration that another World Cup should take place while he is “around” adds another complication.
The president would be 92 years old during the summer of 2038. His current second term is scheduled to end in January 2029, and the US Constitution prevents a person from being elected president more than twice.
The timing makes it impossible for Trump to oversee a 2038 World Cup as president under the existing constitutional framework.
Still, his enthusiasm reflects the financial and commercial success of the 2026 tournament. Packed stadiums, expensive hospitality packages and record total attendance strengthened the United States’ position as a highly attractive market for FIFA.
As described by The Guardian’s examination of a possible 2038 bid, senior football officials were already discussing the prospect of another American tournament during the final weeks of the 2026 competition.
A genuine ambition distorted online
Trump’s desire to bring the World Cup back is genuine. So is his preference for a future tournament without Canada and Mexico.
The claim that he demanded another World Cup “within the next two years”, however, misrepresents his words.
Trump wants the United States to begin seeking another tournament immediately. FIFA’s calendar means he is unlikely to see that ambition fulfilled before 2038.
The president may want the World Cup back quickly, but even his close relationship with Infantino cannot create an edition that does not exist.
