Donald Trump has publicly urged Fifa to bring the World Cup back to the United States as soon as possible, as the governing body eyes a potential 2038 bid following a record-breaking tournament in 2026. In an interview with Fox News before the World Cup final, Trump said: "We have to do this again and we have to do it while I'm around, you hear that Gianni?"
Revenue surge drives Fifa's interest
Fifa has been quietly encouraging a US bid for some time. On Saturday, at a meeting at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Fifa president Gianni Infantino told representatives of the 211 member associations that revenue projections for the current four-year cycle have increased from $11bn to $15bn, with most growth coming from ticketing and hospitality.
A Fifa source disclosed that ticketing and hospitality sales have surpassed $5bn, driven by US demand. This market is now worth more than the World Cup's TV rights for the first time. "Fifa will want to get back here as quickly as possible," said a senior figure at one of its hospitality partners.
TV rights left on the table
Despite ticket sales exceeding expectations, Fifa left significant money on the table with its US TV rights deal. Fox Sports acquired English-language rights for 2026 without a bidding process, paying $485m—the same as for Qatar 2022—despite 40 extra matches and home soil. For context, the NFL's domestic TV deal is worth $11bn annually, and the NBA's around $7bn.
Fox has capitalized this summer, with industry experts predicting over $1bn in ad revenue, boosted by hydration breaks. Fifa is determined to recoup lost income in future cycles. ESPN, NBC, and even Netflix are expected to bid for 2030 rights, with Netflix already securing Women's World Cup rights for 2027 and 2031.
Rotation policy allows early return
No country has hosted the World Cup twice in 12 years, but Fifa's statutes and recent staging decisions provide flexibility. With the 2030 tournament spanning six countries across three continents, and Saudi Arabia hosting in 2034, a North American bid for 2038 is permitted under Fifa's confederation rotation policy, along with one from Oceania.
Soccer Australia had wanted to bid for 2034 but withdrew after being given less than a month to register interest, leaving Saudi Arabia unopposed. Concacaf has reservations about another US bid, preferring to give opportunities to other members. Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Mexico have been added to the 2031 Women's World Cup bid, and a joint men's bid could emerge, though Trump prefers sole US hosting.
Timeline and political considerations
Fifa's timeline for opening the 2038 process is unknown, but history suggests it could move quickly. The 2034 bidding process opened abruptly in October 2024, with Infantino announcing Saudi Arabia as hosts 25 days later, ratified at a virtual meeting two months later. Infantino is expected to be re-elected unopposed at next year's Fifa Congress in Morocco.
Trump, due to leave office in January 2029, may set a deadline for Fifa. "Based on the numbers we will be requesting it again immediately," he told Fox News.
