The United States could end up hosting the World Cup again much sooner than many people expected, after the 2026 tournament wrapped up on 19 July and comments from the White House’s World Cup task force pointed to another American bid being very much on the table.
FIFA has already confirmed that the 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with centenary matches also set for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 edition, and FIFA has not yet set a timetable for the 2038 bidding process.
Because the US has only just co-hosted the competition with Canada and Mexico, it might seem unlikely that the country would be in the running again so soon for 2038.
But comments from the executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force suggest another American bid is very much on the table.
“When you think that this World Cup may at some point expand out to 64 teams, I think the United States can handle it. Let me make sure we get through this World Cup on 19 July before we make our pitch for 2038 or other ones.”
Even if a second US-hosted World Cup in quick succession sounds far-fetched, FIFA’s confederation rotation policy means a North American bid would be eligible again for 2038 if the current cycle continues.
That also keeps the door open for interest from Oceania, with FIFA still aiming to spread hosting opportunities across different regions of the world.
Australia has regularly been mentioned as a possible contender for 2038, but the country’s government is now understood to be focusing instead on a tilt at the 2050 World Cup.
Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party said in Adelaide this week that Australia expects to have the sporting infrastructure required for the 2050 men’s tournament, following the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Australia was also a co-host of the 2023 Women’s World Cup alongside New Zealand.
If an Australia-led bid does not materialise for 2038, that could leave the US in a particularly strong position.
Trump told Fox News before attending the World Cup final that the US planned to move quickly with another World Cup bid.
“I had a great idea for Gianni [Infantino]: You have to do two countries. Announce us again next time, and then announce another country after that. It’ll take out some of the anger and the shock,” the president said.
“Based on the numbers, we will be requesting it again immediately.”
Any US bid for 2038 would also benefit from FIFA’s current rotation pattern, under which the 2026 tournament was allocated to Concacaf, the 2030 tournament to Europe, Africa and South America, and the 2034 tournament to Asia and Oceania.
FIFA has not yet set out a timetable for the 2038 World Cup bidding process.