US officials open door to hosting expanded 64-team World Cup in 2038

The United States is considering a bid to host the 2038 FIFA World Cup, with officials saying the country has the facilities and experience to stage an even bigger tournament if FIFA expands the competition to 64 teams.

Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force, said the U.S. would be capable of hosting a larger tournament after co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Giuliani said the country’s large number of stadiums, transport networks, and accommodation facilities could support a 64-team World Cup if FIFA decides to expand the tournament beyond the current 48 teams.

He noted, however, that the immediate focus is on successfully completing the 2026 World Cup before discussing any future hosting plans.

The United States previously hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994 and is hosting most of the matches, including the final, in the 2026 edition.

With FIFA already awarding the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, the 2038 tournament is the next available edition for bidding. Although no official bid has been submitted, Giuliani’s comments suggest the U.S. is interested in bringing football’s biggest event back to the country for a third time.

The possibility comes as FIFA continues to discuss expanding the World Cup. After increasing the tournament from 32 to 48 teams in 2026, the governing body is considering a further expansion to 64 teams, which would require greater investment in stadiums, transportation, accommodation, and logistics.

Supporters of a U.S. bid believe the country’s extensive sports infrastructure makes it one of the few nations capable of hosting a 64-team World Cup without depending heavily on neighboring countries.

The White House created its FIFA World Cup Task Force in 2025 to help coordinate preparations for the 2026 tournament, including security, transportation, tourism, and other key operations.

While any decision on a 2038 bid remains years away, the comments from U.S. officials indicate that the country is already looking ahead to the possibility of hosting the FIFA World Cup once again.