Bangkok: U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed that the United States host a future World Cup independently, excluding Canada and Mexico, as he suggested during a FIFA reception in New York ahead of the anticipated final between Argentina and Spain.
According to Thai News Agency, Trump made his remarks at a welcome event held at Trump Tower, emphasizing that FIFA should select the U.S. as the sole host for the next World Cup. In the most recent tournament, the U.S. hosted 78 out of 104 matches, including all games from the quarter-finals onwards, with Mexico and Canada as co-hosts.
The 2038 FIFA World Cup is the next available tournament for hosting, with no decision yet on the host country. This potential bid comes despite the relatively short period since the last U.S.-hosted World Cup, considering the historical gaps between hostings.
The host countries for the upcoming 2030 and 2034 World Cups have been finalized, with the centennial 2030 tournament set to be celebrated across Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 tournament. Consequently, North America and Oceania remain eligible to bid for the 2038 World Cup according to current FIFA regulations.
Trump also disclosed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino discussed the possibility of the U.S. co-hosting a future event with China. He is expected to attend the final match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.