President Trump signed an executive order on Friday to establish the White House 2026 World Cup Special Task Force, preparing for the 2026 World Cup to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
President Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino jointly announced the establishment of the White House 2026 World Cup Special Task Force on Friday.
The United States, along with Canada and Mexico, will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Prior to this, White House officials told Fox News Channel that Trump will serve as the chairman of the special task force, with Vice President JD Vance acting as vice chairman. The day-to-day management and oversight will be handled by an executive director.
The task of the Special Task Force is to oversee the preparation for the tournament, with members composed of Trump’s cabinet and major government agencies. The official stated that the Special Task Force will also collaborate with federal agencies to plan, organize, and execute the World Cup events.
This event is expected to be one of the largest international sporting events, with host cities projected to welcome nearly 500,000 visitors, potentially generating up to $4.8 billion in economic impact, benefiting the local tourism, hotel, and retail sectors.
This international event spanning North America is set to kick off in June 2026, marking the first World Cup to be held across multiple countries in over two decades.
The tournament will take place in 16 cities, initially featuring 48 teams competing in a total of 104 matches.
The matches will be held in 11 cities in the United States – Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.
Canada will host matches in Vancouver and Toronto, while Mexico will have venues in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.
The final will be held on July 19, 2026, at the MetLife Stadium in New York. The MetLife Stadium is actually located in New Jersey, but due to its proximity to New York City, it is commonly regarded as a representative venue for New York.