Trump Signals Interest in Hosting 2038 Tournament
President Donald Trump has openly expressed support for the United States submitting a bid to host the 2038 FIFA World Cup. FIFA has been quietly encouraging a U.S. bid for some time, driven by strong ticket and hospitality revenues during the 2026 tournament.
Revenue Surge Drives FIFA Ambitions
FIFA projections for the current four-year cycle rose from $11 billion to $15 billion, largely due to ticketing and hospitality sales exceeding $5 billion in the U.S., now surpassing TV rights income for the first time. The organization aims to capitalize further on the lucrative U.S. market in future tournaments.
TV Rights and Lost Revenue
Fox Sports acquired English-language TV rights for the 2026 World Cup at $485 million without a competitive bidding process. Despite more matches and home advantage, the deal was kept the same as Qatar 2022. Fox is expected to earn over $1 billion from advertising due to increased viewership and the introduction of hydration breaks.
Future Bidding Landscape
FIFA plans to recoup lost U.S. TV revenue. ESPN, NBC, and potentially Netflix are expected to bid for the 2030 tournament. North America could pursue a 2038 bid under FIFA’s confederation rotation rules, while Concacaf has reservations about repeated U.S. hosting, aiming to give other members opportunities.
Timeline and Governance
FIFA’s schedule for the 2038 bidding process is not yet announced, but previous tournaments have opened unexpectedly. President Gianni Infantino will be re-elected for a fourth term at next year’s FIFA Congress in Morocco, likely unopposed. Trump’s term ends in January 2029, which could set the de facto deadline for the U.S. bid.
