Trump Says US Should Host Next World Cup Alone, Floats China Partnership as Joke

President Trump used a FIFA event at Trump Tower in New York this week to argue the U.S. should host the next World Cup by itself, cutting out co-hosts Canada and Mexico.

Trump made the comment in a light-hearted tone, according to Dailyhunt, but it landed just before the final of the 2026 tournament, which is set to be played between Argentina and Spain. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was standing next to him when he said it.

The 2026 World Cup is currently being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Trump's suggestion that America go it alone next time got laughs in the room, per Dailyhunt's account of the event, and it has sparked debate in sports and political circles about future hosting arrangements.

Trump didn't stop at cutting out America's neighbors. He also joked that if the U.S. couldn't host solo, a partnership with China might work, quipping that it would cut down on travel distance between countries. The audience reportedly laughed at that one too, according to Dailyhunt.

Infantino, for his part, didn't push back on any of it. He told the crowd the 2026 World Cup is more than a sporting event, calling it a symbol of the American Dream, and praised the U.S. administration's support in getting ready for the tournament, according to Dailyhunt's reporting.

This isn't the first time Trump and Infantino have shown up together in the headlines. Trump has previously claimed he spoke with Infantino and requested that a ban on American footballer Florian Balogun be lifted. Dailyhunt reports the player was later allowed to play in the next match, even though the U.S. team didn't advance far in the tournament.

The Realistic Math on Hosting Alone

FIFA has already locked in hosts through 2034. The 2030 World Cup goes to a three-way split between Morocco, Portugal and Spain. The 2034 tournament is set for Saudi Arabia. A decision on the 2038 host has not yet been made, according to Dailyhunt, which is the earliest point where a U.S.-only bid could even be considered.

That leaves Trump's comment as speculation rather than policy. FIFA has not indicated any plans to revisit its multi-country hosting model, and the current tournament's arrangement between three nations remains the operating template for now.

Where the Coverage Splits

The Hill's version of the story, republished via PressBee, frames Trump's comment mainly as him basking in the spotlight, tying it to the broader narrative of Trump inserting himself into the tournament's biggest moments. Dailyhunt's account goes further, capturing the China remark and the Balogun backstory that The Hill's brief writeup leaves out entirely.

Neither outlet reports any indication that FIFA is actually entertaining a solo U.S. bid for 2038. No formal proposal exists. No FIFA vote is scheduled. This is, as of today, a president riffing at a press event, not a policy in motion.

Dailyhunt notes Trump has also indicated he may attend the Argentina-Spain final, keeping him in the spotlight as the tournament wraps and attention turns to who might bid for 2038 — a decision FIFA has not yet made.