The United States could consider launching a bid to host the men's 2038 World Cup, the executive director of the White House's World Cup task force has said – a move that would come as Fifa contemplates expanding the tournament to a seismic 64 teams.
Andrew Giuliani, who oversees the US's co-hosting role for the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, told the BBC that America's infrastructure made it an obvious candidate. "When you think that this World Cup may at some point expand out to 64 teams, I think the United States can handle it," he said.
“US could bid for 2038 World Cup amid Fifa's 64-team expansion plans, says White House official.”
The 2026 edition has already been increased from 32 to 48 teams, with the US staging 78 of the 104 matches. But Fifa is considering an even larger format as early as 2030, when the tournament will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with the opening three matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the competition's 100th anniversary. Saudi Arabia is due to host the 2034 event, leaving 2038 as the next available tournament for which a bidding process will take place.
Giuliani acknowledged the immediate priority. "Let me make sure we get through this World Cup on 19 July before we make our pitch for 2038 or other ones," he said.
The US bid, however, would come against a backdrop of controversy during the 2026 tournament. In April, more than 120 rights groups issued a joint travel advisory urging fans, players and journalists to "exercise caution" in the US, citing what they called "the Trump administration's violent and abusive immigration crackdown". There has also been criticism of soaring travel costs, while members of Iran's backroom staff were denied entry visas and forced to relocate their base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, facing strict travel restrictions.
Despite this, Giuliani said he had spoken to President Donald Trump about America's credentials. "There's no better country that's positioned to host a World Cup than the United States, and I think we're seeing that on social media," he said. "I think we're seeing that with all the fans that may be interacting with the US for the first time, or the first time in a long time, that the US truly is extremely welcoming, that we have such an incredible infrastructure. We have the stadiums built, so for the US, compared to other host nations, where it costs tens and tens of billions of dollars, you know, it cost us a couple of billion."
Whether the political tensions and logistical challenges of 2026 will overshadow a future bid remains an open question – but Giuliani's confidence suggests the US is already looking far beyond this summer.