Trump: US Should Host Another World Cup, Leave Out Canada and Mexico
Trump told FIFA the US should host another World Cup and leave Canada and Mexico out, targeting the open 2038 slot. Here is the trade angle and tickers to watch.
President Donald Trump used a FIFA reception at Trump Tower on Friday to lobby for another US-hosted World Cup, with a twist: no Canada, no Mexico. Trump told FIFA officials they should pick the United States to host another World Cup, so long as they don’t include Canada or Mexico, saying “You should choose the United States of America again” and “This time we will leave Canada and Mexico out.”
What Trump actually said
Trump added that FIFA should “pick somebody else for the next one and that will take some of the anger, hatred and steam out of everyone,” Politico reported. The comments landed two days before Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium.
He also revealed that FIFA president Gianni Infantino had floated a plan to pair the US with China for a future World Cup, joking that players would enjoy the “nice, short flight in between games.”
Why 2038 is the target
The next World Cup, in 2030, will be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, followed by Saudi Arabia in 2034, and FIFA has not yet selected a host for the 2038 tournament.
A 12-year turnaround would be quick historically for a country to host an additional World Cup, a corner FIFA has somewhat backed itself into with where it has assigned the 2030 and 2034 tournaments. Regions that have hosted more recently must sit out, but countries from North America and Oceania will all be eligible to bid that year.
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The 2026 backdrop
The US hosted 78 of the 104 matches in this summer’s World Cup, including all 12 matches from the quarterfinals on. That already skewed the economic benefit heavily toward US cities, stadiums, and broadcasters, which is part of why a solo bid is now politically thinkable.
Trump also acknowledged calling Infantino to ask for a review after US striker Folarin Balogun received a red card in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and FIFA later suspended the ban, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium in a highly unusual move that sparked worldwide criticism.
The trade angle
A solo US hosting bid would concentrate ticketing, broadcast, sponsorship, and tourism revenue inside the US rather than splitting it with two neighbors. It would also raise the political stakes for any USMCA-linked names if the rhetoric spills back into trade policy.
The China co-hosting comment was a joke, but it lands while US-China relations remain a live market variable. Traders should track any follow-up from FIFA or the White House task force.
Options market and stocks to watch
Watch for reactions in names tied to live sports, streaming, and travel around any 2038 bid chatter:
- FOX and FOXA: US broadcast rights holder for the men’s World Cup. Watch for flow tied to future rights cycles.
- DIS: ESPN’s sports-rights positioning benefits from any expanded US-hosted event calendar.
- ABNB and BKNG: A US-only host would concentrate lodging demand domestically. Watch for reaction if a formal bid emerges.
- MGM and DKNG: Sportsbooks lean on marquee tournaments for handle. A repeat US host would be a tailwind.
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