U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to deliver “the best-run soccer tournament the world has ever seen,” as he opened the first meeting of the White House Task Force on future FIFA tournaments on May 6.
The Task Force, created by Trump, is designed to plan what he called “the biggest, safest, and most extraordinary soccer tournament in history.” Andrew Giuliani was named Executive Director of the Task Force, while Carlos Cordeiro, a Senior Advisor to the FIFA President, was appointed as a Senior Advisor to the group.
The meeting gathered top figures from both FIFA and the U.S. government. Attendees included FIFA President Gianni Infantino, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
The U.S. is set to host two major FIFA events, beginning with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup later this year. The tournament will now include 32 teams competing in 63 matches across 12 stadiums in 11 cities—up from just seven teams in past editions.
Despite previous criticism from players, clubs, and football groups about an overloaded schedule, the meeting had a largely positive tone. Much of the focus was on the economic benefits expected from hosting the tournaments. Infantino estimated the events would generate nearly $50 billion in economic output and create around 300,000 jobs in the U.S.
Jason Siegel, President and CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, praised the Club World Cup’s potential impact during a March 2025 interview with Insider Sport. Orlando is one of the host cities for the tournament.
“We are eagerly anticipating the monumental impact the Club World Cup will have on our community,” Siegel said. “With an estimated economic impact of $70 to $90 million, this international event is set to make a significant mark.”
He added that tourism is expected to rise sharply, with fans from around the globe spending on hotels, restaurants, and local businesses.
While the Club World Cup is a major milestone, it is just the lead-up to the even bigger 2026 FIFA World Cup. Co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the tournament will be the largest in history. It will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches in 16 cities.
The event is expected to bring similar economic benefits, including job creation and local investment. However, recent World Cups have come with challenges. Brazil 2014 saw protests over spending. Russia 2018 faced racism issues, political controversies, and accusations of “sportswashing.” Qatar 2022 drew heavy criticism over human rights violations, the treatment of migrant workers, and LGBTQ+ concerns.
In 2026, one of the biggest challenges may be U.S. visa regulations. The country is known for strict border control, which has become even tougher since Trump began his second term in January 2025. Many fans worry about long visa wait times and strict immigration policies, especially for supporters from certain countries.
Secretary Noem addressed these concerns, saying her department is already working with other agencies to speed up visa processing.
“This summer, by hosting the Club championship, we’re processing travel documents and visa applications already,” she said. “That is obviously going to be a precursor to what we can do next year for the World Cup as well.”
FIFA President Infantino voiced strong confidence in the U.S. to deliver: “We will bring to the world something they have never seen—and will probably never see again.”
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