United States World Cup Bid for 2038
The possibility of the United States hosting the World Cup again in 2038 is a topic of discussion among football administrators. This follows the recent 2026 World Cup, which was held across the US, Canada, and Mexico. The US president, Donald Trump, has expressed a desire for the tournament to return to the US “immediately,” stating this in an interview with Fox News ahead of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
FIFA has reportedly been encouraging a US bid for some time, with discussions taking place among officials. The US president made his comments to Fox Sports’ Jenny Taft, highlighting the success of the recent tournament. He noted the significant turnout and reception, which led him to advocate for another US hosting opportunity.
Despite the US president’s enthusiasm for an immediate return, the 2030 World Cup is scheduled to be hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, with initial matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. The 2034 World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia. This means the earliest the US could host again is 2038, which aligns with FIFA’s confederation rotation policy, making North America and Oceania eligible.
Financial Impact and Future Bidding
The financial success of the recent tournament in the US has been a key factor in FIFA’s interest in a swift return. FIFA President Gianni Infantino informed representatives of the governing body’s member associations that revenue projections for the current four-year cycle have increased. A significant portion of this growth, specifically from ticketing and hospitality revenue, has come from the US market.
Ticketing and hospitality sales in the US have reportedly surpassed $5bn, exceeding the value of the World Cup’s TV rights for the first time. This demand, partly driven by dynamic pricing and secondary market resale models prevalent in US culture, suggests a strong financial incentive for FIFA to return. One senior figure from a FIFA hospitality partner indicated that FIFA would want to be back in the US as quickly as possible.
However, the current TV rights deal with Fox Sports for the 2026 tournament was awarded without a bidding process. This was a move by FIFA to avoid a lawsuit after the Qatar 2022 tournament was moved to winter, creating a conflict with US domestic sports schedules. This arrangement meant Fox acquired the rights for $485m, the same amount as for Qatar, despite the 2026 tournament featuring more matches and being held on home soil. This figure is considerably lower than the annual domestic TV deals for the NFL and NBA.
FIFA is reportedly keen to recover what is considered lost income from the US market in future TV rights cycles. ESPN and NBC are expected to bid for the 2030 tournament, and initial discussions have also taken place with Netflix regarding their potential involvement in the auction. Netflix has already shown interest in football by acquiring American rights for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031, with the latter also being held in the US.
Challenges and Political Considerations
While a US bid for 2038 is permissible under FIFA’s rotation policy, some challenges exist. The North American confederation, Concacaf, is understood to have reservations about another US bid, preferring to offer opportunities to other member nations. For instance, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Mexico have been added to the 2031 Women’s World Cup bid, and another joint bid could emerge.
The US president, however, would reportedly prefer the US to be the sole host. He has made his presence known within FIFA since 2018, when the US was awarded hosting duties for the 2026 tournament. He has developed a close relationship with Gianni Infantino, who presented him with the FIFA Peace Prize in December. The US president was also present at MetLife Stadium for the final between Spain and Argentina, where he presented medals and the trophy to Spain.
FIFA’s timeline for opening the 2038 bidding process is not yet known, but past decisions suggest it could move quickly to secure its desired outcome. The sudden opening of the 2034 bidding process in October 2024, which led to Saudi Arabia being selected unopposed, demonstrates FIFA’s ability to expedite such decisions.
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Source: theguardian.com
