President Trump on Tuesday announced Andrew Giuliani, an ally and son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, would lead a task force overseeing the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in North America.
Trump convened a meeting of that task force at the White House with a host of FIFA and administration officials to tout plans for the massive event.
The United States will serve as the primary host, with Mexico and Canada also hosting several matches. It will kick off on June 11, 2026, and it will mark the first men’s World Cup to expand from 32 teams to 48 teams.
Trump said he did not foresee any tensions with Canada and Mexico in jointly hosting next summer’s event. He hosted new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the White House earlier in the day.
Trump touted that Andrew Giuliani is a “highly competitive golfer…and he’s also a highly competitive person, and he loves what we’re doing.”
“It’s a big post. You better do well, Andrew,” Trump joked to Giuliani during Tuesday’s task force meeting.
Carlos Cordeiro, who serves as a senior adviser to FIFA, will also advise the task force, Trump said.
Other attendees at the White House roundtable included Vice President Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), FBI Director Kash Patel and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“Together this group will help plan the biggest, safest and most extraordinary soccer tournament in history,” Trump said during the task force meeting.
The World Cup is expected to draw millions of spectators, from around the country and the world. Host cities in the U.S. include Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Miami. Toronto, Vancouver and Mexico City are among the cities in Canada and Mexico that will host matches.
Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy encouraged fans from around the globe to visit the United States for next year’s tournament, though they cautioned against overstaying visas.
North America was selected as the host site for the 2026 World Cup during Trump’s first term in 2018.
Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics, a bid it won in 2017.
