Abdulhafiz TeslimUS President Donald Trump wants the United States to host the World Cup again, only this time without Mexico and Canada as co-hosts.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has generally been regarded as a success, although it has not been without controversy.
Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, there was some skepticism before the newly expanded 48-team tournament got underway over how the competition would unfold.
Concerns over ticket prices grew, with fears that some of the incredible stadiums on offer would be left with empty seats as supporters were priced out of attending matches.
However, that was largely not the case, with fans travelling from all over the world to fill some of the most state-of-the-art venues in football, although some supporters experienced visa and travel-related difficulties.
Some countries also faced logistical challenges. Reports indicated that Iran’s squad travelled to the United States only for matches before returning immediately to their training base in Mexico afterwards.
Some supporters also reported being scammed by third-party ticket sellers.
Despite those issues, the month-long tournament has generated enormous excitement. Even with the mandatory—but unpopular—hydration breaks, World Cup fever has been running high as fans from across the globe came together to enjoy football’s biggest spectacle.
So much so that US President Donald Trump said he would like the United States to host the tournament again—this time without Canada and Mexico.
“What we should do is, you should choose the United States of America again. This time we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out,” Trump said on Friday during a speech at Trump Tower, prompting FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was standing beside him, to laugh.
“But then what you do is—which I was very nice to get them in—you choose us, but you pick somebody else for the next one, and that will take some of the anger, hatred and steam out of everyone.”
Trump then joked about another possible hosting arrangement.
“But Gianni also had another idea. He said we could do it—China and the United States the next time. So you have a nice short flight in between games,” he joked. “The players would love that.”
The 2030 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be hosted primarily by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, while Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will stage the tournament’s centenary matches.
Meanwhile, the 2034 edition will be hosted by Saudi Arabia, meaning the United States would not be able to host another men’s World Cup until at least 2038.
Infantino praises Trump for his World Cup role
Trump also made headlines after reports claimed he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding USMNT striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension.
Balogun was sent off for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic during the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. His red card was later reviewed, with the suspension lifted, allowing him to return to the starting XI for the Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
According to talkSPORT, Infantino received a call from Trump asking him to review the red card decision. However, neither FIFA nor the White House publicly confirmed the report.
Infantino has also faced criticism from some observers over alleged pro-Argentina bias during the tournament, with Lionel Messi leading Argentina to the World Cup final against Spain in New Jersey.
With the pair enjoying a good relationship, Infantino used the occasion to thank Trump for his administration’s role in hosting the tournament.
“I say this because it is the truth,” Infantino said. “We don’t need people to compliment you, Mr President, but this World Cup would not have been such an incredible success without you.
“Your administration, every single person in the White House, in the cities, in the states, everywhere contributed to creating this safe, secure and joyful environment.
“This is not just the greatest World Cup of all time, it is the greatest human, social and cultural event that mankind has ever witnessed. We are all part of it, and for this I thank you very much, Mr President.”
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Abdulhafiz Teslim
