Donald Trump hands himself vital World Cup role with US set to host soccer showpiece
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday related to security surrounding the World Cup as he hosted FIFA’s head Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office.
The United States is set to co-host the soccer showstopper along with Canada and Mexico – two nations Trump has threatened with a trade war – next summer.
And in preparation for the international tournament arriving stateside, the President signed an executive order Friday establishing a White House Task Force for the event.
‘We’re going to be establishing a very important task force and that’s on the FIFA World Cup of 2026, which as you know is a big event. It’s going to be the biggest event, I think,’ Trump said as he addressed reporters before turning to Infantine stood to his side.
‘Everybody knows this man to my right, he’s sort of the king of soccer, I guess. He was the one that was able to give it to us and we’re going to do a fantastic job in making you at home.’
The President then incorrectly claimed that it was the first time the World Cup had been held in ‘this part of the world.’ The United States hosted the 1994 edition of the tournament.
Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday related to security surrounding the World Cup
The President was joined by FIFA head honcho Gianni Infantino (R) in the Oval Office
‘It’s like three Super Bowls a day for a month,’ Trump said repeating Infantino’s phrasing. ‘That’s a lot.’
The president teased Infantino about which is bigger – the World Cup or the Olympics.
Infantino chose the World Cup. ‘The World Cup is much, much, much bigger – and it’s in the whole country.’
Trump noted how the US would be hosting both – the World Cup in 2026 and the summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, the president’s final year in office.
‘They rigged the election and I became president,’ Trump said referring to his 2020 election loss and then his 2024 election win, meaning he would now be around for both major sporting events. ‘I’ll be president during the World Cup.’
The 2026 World Cup is being shared with Canada and Mexico, with a reporter asking the president how the current tumult over tariffs will impact the matches.
‘It makes it much more exciting,’ Trump replied.
The president also confirmed that he planned to attend one or more of the matches being held in the US
Trump noted how the US would be hosting both the World Cup in 2026 and the 2028 Olympics
‘Oh yeah, sure, I would like to. I would like to go certainly to more than one. We’ll be making the rounds,’ Trump said.
The 78-year-old has appointed himself to serve as chair with his Vice President, JD Vance, set to serve as vice chair, a White House official said.
The task force’s aim will be to oversee preparations for the World Cup, which is the first held in multiple countries in more than two decades.
The committee will be comprised of Trump’s cabinet along with key government officials. It will also reportedly work with federal agencies in planning, organizing, and executing the World Cup.
The World Cup will begin in June 2026, spanning across the continent, with 48 teams playing 104 matches in 16 different host cities.
Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, and New Jersey have been selected to host games in the United States.
Meanwhile, MetLife Stadium has been given the honor of hosting the final on July 19, 2026. Trump, as president, is likely to accept the honor of presenting the World Cup trophy to the winners of the competition.
The first and only time the United States has hosted a World Cup, back in 1994, saw then-president Bill Clinton choose not to attend the final between Brazil and Italy in California.
Gianni Infantino gives a thumbs-up as he attends Donald Trump’s victory rally in Washington
Trump will have the honor of presenting the trophy to the winners if he chooses
Instead, vice president Al Gore had the honor of presenting Brazilian captain Dunga with the trophy at the Rose Bowl.
Trump’s involvement in the preparations for the tournament comes as no surprise due to his seemingly close relationship with Infantino
Infantino attended Trump’s inauguration celebrations in January when the FIFA President was in the United States for the launch of the Club World Cup trophy tour.
The night before taking oath, Trump held a victory rally in front of his adoring fans, and Infantino was in attendance to take in the scenes in the US capital.
Furthermore, Infantino and the World Cup got a special mention from Trump, much to the delight of the FIFA president.
‘What an incredible honor, (and) what an incredible privilege at the victory rally,’ Infantino said on Instagram. ‘President Donald J. Trump, in his speech, mentioned FIFA, mentioned myself, thanking us, looking forward to the events we are organizing here, of course, the (FIFA) World Cup mostly.
‘Well, this is FIFA at the maximum of its respect… being mentioned by the new President of the United States of America in his victory rally, in his victory speech, is unique (and) is beautiful.
‘I would like to thank President Trump, with whom I have a great friendship, and to assure him that, together, we will make not only America great again, but also the entire world, of course, because football – or soccer – unites the world. Bye!’
Trump’s first two years in office will see the Club World Cup take place on US soil this summer, followed by the World Cup next year. Furthermore, the US will host the Summer Olympics in 2028.
