With an executive order released on Friday, President Trump established a task force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the event as an opportunity to “showcase the Nation’s pride and hospitality while promoting economic growth and tourism through sport.”
For the first time ever, three countries will host the 104 matches of the beloved and most-watched soccer tournament in the world: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The World Cup will return to the States for the first time since 1994, when Italy lost the final to Brazil with a misplaced penalty kick at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Mexico has already hosted the the competition in 1970, which saw the triumph of Pelé and the strongest “” ever, as well as 1986, where future global superstar Diego Armando Maradona won the cup for Argentina.
Canada will be making its debut as one of the three host countries. Trump’s establishment of a task force that will work on the organization of the World Cup comes at a complex time, with the three nations engaged in a trade war sparked by the 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada that have been promoted by the U.S. president.
“Tension is a good thing,” the president told reporters Friday in the Oval Office. “It makes it much more exciting.”
The MAGA leader himself will chair the World Cup task force, joined by Vice President JD Vance, the secretaries of the departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Transportation, Homeland Security and Commerce, and the attorney general. In the coming days, Trump will appoint an executive director who will oversee the various operations regarding the preparation of the event.
According to insiders, the event will create about 40,000 jobs, with the various cities set to welcome 450,000 fans from around the world. The event could generate $480 million in revenue.
Over the weekend, FIFA President Gianni Infantino also revealed that for the first time ever, a Super Bowl-style music show will be held during the final at halftime, which will be played at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants. The federation will also hold a post-competition celebration in the Big Apple’s Times Square.
