Trump To Oversee Olympics and World Cup
Donald Trump’s return to the White House for a second term is set to be nothing short of historic. His path back to power alone has already made waves, but the upcoming years promise to be marked by once-in-a-lifetime events that will shape his presidency.
In his first term, Trump witnessed the United States securing hosting rights for two major global events—the Summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup—for the first time since the 1990s.
Now, in his second term, he’ll serve as the central figurehead during these monumental occasions, solidifying his role in a truly remarkable chapter of American history.
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary while playing a central role in hosting the FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. Although the tournament is a collaborative effort with its North American neighbors, the majority of matches will take place on U.S. soil.
This event will mark the second time a sitting U.S. president oversees a FIFA Men’s World Cup. The first was in 1994, when Bill Clinton was in office, and the tournament was hosted solely in the U.S. In 2026, it will be under Donald Trump’s administration.
The action kicks off on June 11, 2026, with two opening matches in Mexico City, followed by the first U.S. match the next day. The U.S. men’s national team will begin their campaign on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, aiming to improve on their recent performances.
The games will span numerous cities across the U.S., including Foxborough, Massachusetts; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Arlington, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Houston, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia;
Inglewood, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Seattle, Washington; Santa Clara, California; and Miami Gardens, Florida. Additionally, five host cities in both Mexico and Canada will contribute to the tournament’s North American footprint.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
In the past, notable U.S. leaders have been involved in major soccer events. For instance, Bill Clinton attended the opening match of the 1994 World Cup in Chicago.
While it’s unclear if Donald Trump will attend any matches in 2026, he has shown support for soccer events before. During his first term, he backed the U.S. bid for the World Cup and recently participated in the draw for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which the U.S. will also host.
In a prerecorded video for the Club World Cup draw, Trump praised FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying, “I want to say my highest regards and respect to [Gianni Infantino].
It’s an honor to be with you, and we’ll be with you very soon. We’re going to be watching the World Cup, very importantly, also very soon. I was very responsible, along with Gianni, in getting it. And it’s going to be a fantastic thing.”
Trump also mentioned he would try to attend a match during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, often regarded as a warm-up for the World Cup in 2026.
While tradition dictates that the head of state of the host country presents the World Cup trophy, it’s unknown whether Trump will take on this role. During the 2022 World Cup, Qatar’s emir presented the trophy to Argentina’s team after their victory.
The 2028 Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympics are making their return to the United States for the first time since 1996, with Los Angeles hosting the event in July 2028. This will mark the city’s third time hosting, following the 1932 and 1984 games.
Trump is anticipated to be the fourth U.S. president to officially open the Olympics during the opening ceremony on July 14, 2028, though he could choose to decline.
Historically, sitting U.S. presidents avoided the opening ceremonies for the first five Olympics held in the country. However, in 1984, Ronald Reagan broke that pattern by attending the Los Angeles opening ceremony and declaring the games open.
Since then, every U.S.-hosted Olympics has featured the sitting president at the opening ceremony. Bill Clinton opened the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and George W. Bush did the honors for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
During his first term, Trump supported bids for the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, and the LA28 organizers expressed confidence in their ability to work with the president-elect shortly after his election victory.
“President Trump was president when we got the Games in 2017 and signed federally binding documents that committed them to deliver security and transportation,” LA28 Chairman and President Casey Wasserman said last month at a press conference, according to Reuters.
“The Olympics aren’t about politics. They’re not about red and blue, they’re about red, white and blue,” he added. “These are America’s Games taking place in Los Angeles, and it sits above politics in just about every way we experience.”
Trump has touted the World Cup and the Olympics periodically as achievements of his first term, including during an interview on the Let’s Go! podcast just before the November election.
“The World Cup and the Olympics, I was responsible for getting both of them, actually, and I was very honored to do so. And I’m sure they’ll work out really good,” Trump said.
For major events hosted in the U.S. during his tenure, Trump appointed Monica Crowley to act as his administration’s representative.
“Monica will be the Administration Representative for major U.S. hosted events, including America’s 250th Birthday in 2026, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028,” Trump said in a statement earlier this month.Other sporting events
Sports are expected to overlap with Trump’s second term through other avenues, including annual events such as the Super Bowl and the World Series. As president, Trump is expected to host various championship teams at the White House during his four years, as is tradition.
The president-elect, a fan of various sports, including football and golf, will likely make appearances at sporting events, as he has done during his time in and out of the White House.
Trump visited multiple Army-Navy football games, the college football national championship game, and the 2019 World Series, among other events during his first term.
During his final term as president, Trump may attend several major sporting events, but he won’t have the chance to open an Olympics held on U.S. soil. That honor will go to one of his successors. In 2034, Salt Lake City is set to host the Winter Olympics, giving the president elected in 2032 the privilege of officially opening the games.
Beyond the realm of sports, Trump will oversee a historic moment for the nation when the United States celebrates its 250th birthday in July 2026. The last milestone of this magnitude was the country’s bicentennial in 1976, which took place under the leadership of President Gerald Ford.