On the eve of the 2026 World Cup final, US President Donald Trump used a reception at Trump Tower in New York to call on FIFA to award another men’s tournament to the United States, this time as a sole host. “You should choose the United States of America again. This time we will leave Canada and Mexico out,” Trump said, before adding that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had floated the idea of a joint bid with China, which would allow “a nice short flight between games.” The remarks, made in the presence of Infantino and representatives of the three co-hosting nations, immediately reframed the diplomatic backdrop to a tournament already marked by controversy over political interference.

Infantino, for his part, offered an expansive tribute to Trump, stating that the tournament “would not have been such an incredible success without you” and describing the event as “the greatest human, social and cultural event that humanity has ever witnessed.” The FIFA president credited the Trump administration, White House staff, and host cities with creating a secure and joyful atmosphere, and declared that “the American dream … became reality.” Viewed from European and Middle Eastern capitals, the exchange reinforced perceptions of an unusually close relationship between the FIFA leadership and the US executive, with some commentators noting that Infantino’s rhetoric echoed the superlative style often employed by Trump himself.

The reception also surfaced fresh details about the suspension of US forward Folarin Balogun. Trump confirmed that he had telephoned Infantino after Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, telling the FIFA president, “I wanted to report my disagreement.” FIFA subsequently lifted the automatic one-match ban, a rare intervention that drew criticism from football officials in multiple regions. In New York, Trump praised Infantino for the decision, saying, “You made another great decision. You’ll never get the credit you deserve for it.” The episode has intensified scrutiny of FIFA’s governance, with analysts in London and Tehran pointing to it as an example of political pressure influencing disciplinary processes.

The next men’s World Cup open for bidding is the 2038 edition. FIFA has already awarded the 2030 tournament to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with centenary matches in South America, and the 2034 event to Saudi Arabia. Under current rotation rules, North America and Oceania would be eligible to bid for 2038, though the formal process is years away. Trump’s comments, while not a formal bid, signal a clear intention to pursue the tournament again, and his suggestion of excluding Canada and Mexico introduces a potential point of friction within the US‑led regional alliance. The final between Spain and Argentina is scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Trump is expected to present the trophy to the winners.