US considers bid to host 2038 World Cup as FIFA eyes 64-team expansion

The United States is already in the middle of hosting the 2026 World Cup, and it’s apparently already thinking about doing it again. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, said on June 26 that the US could consider a bid for the 2038 men’s tournament, particularly if FIFA follows through on plans to expand the field to 64 teams.

Giuliani stressed that it’s too early for a formal commitment, but the signal is clear: the US sees itself as a repeat host in an era where FIFA keeps making the tournament bigger.

From 48 to 64: FIFA’s appetite for growth

The 2026 World Cup already represents a historic expansion. FIFA grew the tournament from 32 to 48 teams for the first time, spread across a co-hosting arrangement involving the US, Canada, and Mexico. Over $1 billion in federal funding has been allocated for construction and security preparations alone.

Now the conversation has shifted to 64 teams. CONMEBOL, South America’s football confederation, proposed a one-time 64-team expansion for the 2030 tournament to celebrate the World Cup’s centennial, with discussions beginning in 2025. Giuliani’s comments suggest the US believes it has the infrastructure to handle that scale on a more permanent basis.

FIFA’s blockchain play on Avalanche

FIFA hasn’t been shy about its Web3 ambitions. The federation built its own blockchain infrastructure on Avalanche technology, designed to power FIFA Collect, its platform for digital collectibles. The initiative aims to support NFTs and broader sports token activities as part of a global fan engagement strategy.

Sports fan tokens have historically experienced trading spikes during World Cup cycles. No specific crypto tokens or protocols were directly tied to Giuliani’s comments about a 2038 bid.

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