Discussions are underway regarding a potential U.S. bid to host the 2038 FIFA World Cup, with both former President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressing interest in bringing the tournament back to the United States. This consideration follows the success of the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host alongside Canada and Mexico.

During an interview broadcast ahead of the current World Cup final, Trump publicly signaled his desire to secure the 2038 event in the United States, urging FIFA to “do this again” while he remains politically active. FIFA officials have indicated that the organization has been quietly encouraging a U.S. bid, driven in part by strong financial gains seen during the current competition cycle.

FIFA’s revenue estimates for the 2022-2026 cycle have increased from $11 billion to $15 billion, largely due to a surge in ticketing and hospitality sales. According to FIFA sources, ticketing and hospitality revenues in the U.S. alone have surpassed $5 billion, marking a rare occasion where these revenues outpaced income from television rights. This dynamic pricing and secondary market sales, common in the American sports industry, have contributed significantly to this growth.

Despite high ticket demand, FIFA acknowledges having left substantial revenue on the table in the United States during the 2026 rights negotiations. Fox Sports secured English-language TV rights without a competitive bidding process, in part to avoid legal complications following the rescheduling of the 2022 World Cup to winter. Fox paid $485 million for the 2026 rights, the same as for the 2022 tournament, even though the upcoming event will feature 40 additional matches and be hosted partly on U.S. soil. This figure pales in comparison to the massive annual TV deals garnered by major domestic sports such as the NFL and NBA.

Fox Sports is projected to make over $1 billion in advertising revenue during the 2026 World Cup, benefiting from rising viewership and the introduction of hydration breaks, which expanded ad inventory. Looking ahead, FIFA is eager to recover potential lost revenue through a competitive bidding process in future cycles. ESPN, NBC, and streaming platforms like Netflix — which recently acquired U.S. rights for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031 — are expected to pursue broadcasting rights for the 2030 tournament.

FIFA’s confederation rotation policy permits a North American bid for the 2038 World Cup following the 2030 tournament, which is set to be hosted across six countries on three continents, and Saudi Arabia’s 2034 hosting. Although no nation has hosted the men’s World Cup twice within 12 years, FIFA’s recent decisions allow for such flexibility. This opens the door for the United States either to bid independently or through a joint North American proposal, although some Concacaf members reportedly favor broader regional collaboration to include countries like Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Mexico.

Australia’s Soccer Federation withdrew its candidacy for the 2034 tournament after FIFA reportedly gave less than a month to submit formal interest, paving the way for Saudi Arabia’s unopposed selection. FIFA’s swift selection process for 2034, completed within a month in late 2024, has fueled speculation that the 2038 bidding timetable could unfold quickly as well.

Infantino is expected to secure a fourth term as FIFA President at next year’s Congress in Morocco. Meanwhile, Trump’s potential influence on a 2038 U.S. bid may be constrained by his leaving office in January 2029, unless unprecedented political developments occur.

As discussions continue, FIFA and the United States appear poised to explore options that capitalize on the financial success and growing popularity of the World Cup in the American market.