US President Donald Trump proclaimed that the United States has embraced soccer as a nation following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which saw unprecedented attendance and international interest in North America. Trump expressed his surprise at the country’s newfound love for soccer during a FIFA reception in New York, highlighting the tournament’s success and the role of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and US federal agencies in its organization. The President lauded the 2026 World Cup as the largest and most successful sporting event in history, attributing its achievements to the addition of 16 teams and the overwhelming spectator turnout.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup shattered numerous records, with over 6.5 million fans attending matches, surpassing the combined viewership of the previous two tournaments. Trump noted the global appeal of the event, with fans from 200 countries converging in 16 cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico. He emphasized the tournament’s massive viewership, estimating that nearly 6 billion people worldwide would have watched the World Cup by its conclusion. The President commended the collaborative efforts between his administration and FIFA, highlighting the extensive preparations involving more than 50 federal departments and agencies.
Acknowledging the significant role played by his administration in facilitating the World Cup, Trump mentioned the expedited visa processing for ticket holders and the allocation of over $1.2 billion for transportation and security measures. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed gratitude to Trump for his administration’s support, hailing the 2026 World Cup as a monumental global success. Infantino credited the event for not only being the greatest World Cup ever but also a remarkable human, social, and cultural phenomenon that transcended borders and united people worldwide.
Infantino highlighted the massive in-stadium and global viewership of the matches, emphasizing the event’s unifying impact on host cities and spectators worldwide. The reception, held before the tournament’s final matches, underscored the collaborative efforts of the US, Canada, and Mexico in hosting the expanded 48-team World Cup across three nations. As the first edition of the men’s tournament to feature 48 teams, the 2026 World Cup marked a historic milestone in soccer history, building on the legacy of previous World Cup editions hosted by the three North American countries.
