The United States is already looking beyond this summer’s World Cup, with the executive director of the White House’s task force revealing the country could bid for the 2038 tournament – the next open to applicants after the 2034 event in Saudi Arabia.
Andrew Giuliani, tasked with overseeing the US’s role as co-host of the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, told the BBC that Fifa’s possible expansion to 64 teams – as early as 2030 – makes the US an ideal future host. “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. “Let me make sure we get through this World Cup on 19 July before we make our pitch for 2038 or other ones.”
“US could bid for 2038 World Cup, says White House task force director Andrew Giuliani.”
The 2026 tournament has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams, with the US staging 78 of the 104 matches. But the build-up has been marred by controversy: in April, more than 120 rights groups issued a travel advisory citing “the Trump administration’s violent and abusive immigration crackdown”, while critics have pointed to soaring travel costs. Iran’s backroom staff were denied US entry visas and forced to relocate their base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, facing strict travel restrictions.
Despite the tensions, Giuliani said he has discussed another US bid with President Donald Trump. “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. “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.”
As the 2026 group stage unfolds, a little-known Fifa rule change has already forced early exits for several nations, though the specific countries affected were not detailed by officials. The 2030 tournament will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with centenary matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
Giuliani’s comments underline an ambition that stretches far beyond this summer – even as the US wrestles with the fallout of its immigration policies and the war in the Middle East.