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Could the World Cup be back in the US as soon as 2038? Absolutely
An American bid for the 2038 World Cup is gaining momentum, with Donald Trump publicly urging Fifa president Gianni Infantino to bring the tournament back to the US while he is still in office. Fifa has quietly encouraged such a bid, driven largely by huge, unexpected growth in ticketing and hospitality revenue during the 2026 tournament, which has made the US an exceptionally lucrative host. This matters because it signals Fifa's strategy is increasingly shaped by the American market's willingness to spend, and could see the country host the men's World Cup for a third time within little more than a decade.
At a meeting in New York, Infantino told member associations that revenue projections for the current four-year cycle had risen from $11bn to $15bn, mostly thanks to ticketing and hospitality sales exceeding $5bn, now surpassing TV rights income for the first time. Fifa is also keen to make up ground after handing Fox Sports the 2026 US English-language TV rights without competitive bidding for just $485m, far below the value of comparable NFL and NBA deals, a decision made to avoid legal risk after Qatar 2022's rights clash. With ESPN, NBC and even Netflix reportedly eyeing future rights auctions, and Netflix already holding US rights to the 2027 and 2031 Women's World Cups, Fifa is positioning itself to capitalise fully on renewed American interest, potentially through a fresh US-hosted men's tournament in 2038.
In short
- Trump publicly pushes for the US to host the World Cup again by 2038
- Fifa revenue projections jumped from $11bn to $15bn, mainly via ticketing
- Fifa wants to avoid repeating its cut-price Fox Sports TV rights deal
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The United States has demonstrated unprecedented capacity to generate transformative revenue for football through ticketing and hospitality, now exceeding traditional television income and creating resources that benefit the global game's development. The American market shows genuine, growing enthusiasm for the sport, and hosting again soon would capitalise on rare momentum to embed football more deeply into American culture. From a strategic perspective, FIFA's obligation is to maximise resources for global football development, and the US market currently offers the most efficient means to achieve that.
The case against
The World Cup's principle transcends financial optimisation—it exists to develop football globally and demonstrate equitable rotation among nations. Concentrating hosting in the same wealthy, already football-capable market within a generation undermines that principle and signals FIFA prioritises revenue over the sport's long-term growth and fairness. Other nations investing in infrastructure and football development deserve their opportunity on the world stage, and a pattern of repeated American hosting risks eroding FIFA's credibility with the developing world, where much of the global fanbase and future growth actually resides.
Explained simply
The United States is exploring the possibility of hosting football's World Cup tournament again in 2038, just twelve years after it hosted the tournament in 2026. The American government, including Donald Trump, is publicly backing the idea and encouraging Fifa, the international body that organises football worldwide, to approve it. Fifa has responded positively to the proposal.
The reason Fifa is interested is straightforward: money. The 2026 World Cup in America is generating significantly more revenue than expected, with ticket sales and hospitality packages alone exceeding $5bn. This financial success means hosting a World Cup in the United States is far more profitable than hosting it elsewhere, making another American World Cup highly attractive to Fifa.
This matters because it shows how Fifa's decisions about where the World Cup is held are increasingly driven by how much money can be made. Having a third World Cup in America within roughly a decade would be unprecedented and reflects Fifa's clear focus on the most profitable hosting options.
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