Trump launches White House Task Force for 2026 World Cup

By Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday creating a White House Task Force to oversee preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup which is expected to bring millions of visitors and billions in economic activity.

The task force, chaired by Trump with Vice President JD Vance as vice chair, will coordinate federal agencies to manage logistics for the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup, which the US is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.

"We’re going to be establishing a task force, a very important task force … and that’s on the FIFA World Cup of 2026, which, as you know, is a big event," Trump told reporters, calling it "the biggest event, I think."

-US readiness in question

The announcement follows growing concerns about America’s ability to handle the influx of international fans. Travel industry leaders, including US Travel Association President Geoff Freeman and MGM Resorts International CEO William Hornbuckle, have warned of visa backlogs, outdated airport infrastructure and potential security delays.

"Most countries have ministries of tourism and sports. We have neither," Hornbuckle told CNN Sport, stressing the need for a unified federal response to streamline visitor entry and security procedures.

-FIFA chief backs initiative

Joining Trump for the announcement was FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who praised the move.

"America will welcome the world. There will be millions of people coming, Mr. President, millions of people," Infantino said, emphasizing the tournament’s economic and cultural effect.

"Thank you, Mr. President, for setting up this task force because it is important that everyone that comes to America feels safe, feels welcome," he added, according to CNN.

With 10 million tickets available, Infantino compared the World Cup to "three Super Bowls every day for one month."

-Diplomatic implications

Trump, who was president when the US won its bid to co-host the World Cup in 2018, acknowledged recent tensions with Mexico and Canada but suggested they would "make it more exciting."

"It’s a great honor for our country to have it. Actually, it’s a big deal. It’s, I don’t know which is bigger, the Olympics or the World Cup," said Trump, referencing the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring an expanded 48-team format, kicks off in June 2026 and is expected to generate more than $40 billion in economic activity and create 200,000 jobs.