The United States may host the World Cup again as early as 2038, thanks to FIFA’s manipulation of the hosting cycles.
The U.S. had to wait 32 years between opportunities to host the men’s World Cup, but that gap is unlikely to be repeated. The 2026 World Cup, currently underway, has set a precedent for a quicker return.
FIFA’s process for choosing the World Cup hosts goes in a cycle between continental confederations. The 2030 World Cup was awarded to Spain and Portugal, with Morocco joining the bid to use Africa’s turn in the cycle with Europe.
This move, along with FIFA’s announcement that it would hold opening centennial matches in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, has exhausted CONMEBOL’s (South America) turn in the cycle. While this maneuvering was an obvious effort to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia ahead of its usual turn, it also makes a quicker return to the U.S. a near certainty.
The 2038 World Cup hosting rights have yet to be awarded, but fans should expect the tournament to return to the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Under the current cycle rules, only Oceania and North America would be eligible to host the 2038 World Cup.
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However, with Australia competing in the Asian confederation, no viable host exists in Oceania. New Zealand doesn’t have the stadium infrastructure to host the tournament.
Given the success of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA is likely to look to cash in on another U.S. World Cup as soon as possible. The 2031 Women’s World Cup will also be held in North America, with Mexico, the United States, Costa Rica, and Jamaica hosting the tournament.
This development is a clear indication that FIFA is willing to deviate from its traditional hosting cycles to accommodate lucrative markets. The 2038 World Cup is likely to be a major event, with the U.S., Mexico, and Canada expected to bid jointly.
The prospect of another World Cup in the U.S. is exciting for fans, who will get to experience the tournament again just 12 years after the 2026 edition. With the 2031 Women’s World Cup also on the horizon, North American football fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.
Source: Yahoo Sports