FIFA is actively encouraging the United States to launch a bid for the 2038 World Cup after record-breaking commercial performance during the 2026 tournament forced the governing body to revise its four-year revenue projections upwards from $11 billion to $15 billion.
The extraordinary financial returns have been driven by an explosion in American demand for premium experiences. Ticketing and hospitality sales in the US alone have surpassed $5 billion, meaning matchday income now exceeds the value of the competition’s television rights for the first time in World Cup history.
Political Timeline and Rotation Rules
Donald Trump has publicly championed an early return for the tournament, telling Fox News that the US should host again while he remains in office. Constitutional term limits mean the president is due to depart the White House in January 2029, creating a potential deadline for any bid anchored by his administration.
No country has staged the World Cup twice within 12 years, but FIFA’s confederation rotation policy permits a North American bid for 2038. The slot becomes available after the 2030 tournament is shared across six nations on three continents and Saudi Arabia hosts in 2034.
Broadcast Rights and Regional Tensions
The push for a swift American return is sharpened by FIFA’s determination to recoup lost income from future television deals. Fox Sports was awarded English-language rights for the 2026 tournament without a competitive bidding process, paying $485 million—the same fee as for Qatar 2022—despite the expanded 48-team format adding 40 extra matches.
That figure contrasts sharply with domestic American sports contracts, with the NFL commanding $11 billion annually and the NBA approximately $7 billion. ESPN, NBC and Netflix are expected to contest future rights cycles, with the streaming platform already securing American rights to the 2027 and 2031 Women’s World Cups.
However, regional confederation Concacaf is understood to harbour reservations about another US bid so soon after 2026. The body wants to distribute hosting opportunities among member nations, and has already added Costa Rica, Jamaica and Mexico to the American bid for the 2031 Women’s World Cup. A similar joint approach may emerge for 2038, though Trump has indicated a preference for the US to host alone.
FIFA has not yet announced a timeline for opening the 2038 bidding process, though recent history suggests the governing body could move rapidly to secure its preferred outcome.