US COULD BID TO HOST 2038 MEN'S WORLD CUP, SAYS WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL

The United States is considering submitting a bid to host the men's World Cup in 2038, according to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force. Giuliani stated that the US could accommodate an expanded tournament format of 64 teams. He indicated the country should first complete hosting the 2026 World Cup, which it is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, before pursuing a bid for 2038.

The 2026 tournament will feature 48 teams, an expansion from the traditional 32-team format. Fifa is considering further expansion to 64 teams by 2030. The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with opening matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the competition's centenary. The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia, meaning 2038 would be the next World Cup available for bidding.

Giuliani stated he has discussed the country's hosting capability with US President Donald Trump. This comes amid reported controversies surrounding the 2026 World Cup. Rights groups issued a travel advisory ahead of the tournament, citing what they described as immigration enforcement actions. Members of Iran's backroom staff were denied entry visas, prompting the country to relocate its World Cup base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. The US is hosting 78 of the 104 matches in the 2026 tournament.