The United States has served as one of three host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will officially conclude with Sunday afternoon’s final between Spain and Argentina. Now, the United States has its sights set on hosting an upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup, but it sounds like United States President Donald Trump is making a demand from FIFA before making it official.
According to a top Trump administration official, FIFA has already informed Trump that the United States will host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, it sounds like Trump has one condition that he wants FIFA to agree to before making it official: banning transgender athletes.
2031 Women’s World Cup
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup Task Force, told Politico during a recent interview that FIFA has already informed Trump that the United States will serve as a host nation for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“I know they’ve already told the president that the U.S. is going to get the World Cup in 2031, and that really should be fantastic,” Giuliani said in an interview via Politico.
Giuliani said that the Women’s World Cup would likely feature some different American host cities than were used for the current men’s World Cup.
“I think it’s going to look a little different than this one,” he said. “I think it’s going to be amazing. Probably some different cities involved.”
He added that he is looking forward to the possibility of watching the world’s best women players compete in the United States with his daughter.
“It would be fantastic to see the top women in the world come to the United States and as a fan be able to take her to a match,” Giuliani said.
FIFA has not officially announced the host of the 2031 Women’s World Cup, but a joint bid from the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica is currently the lone candidate.
Trump Wants to Ban Transgender Athletes
While all signs point to the United States hosting the 2031 Women’s World Cup, there is one thing currently holding back those conversations: FIFA’s transgender policy.
According to Giuliani, Trump has demanded that FIFA’s transgender athlete policy align more closely with the Trump administration’s policies, which have looked to bar transgender athletes from competing in sports.
“It is important that the Women’s World Cup does not violate the policy of the United States of America in that it is important that women play in the Women’s World Cup and not biological men,” Giuliani said.
Giuliani called this point “really key” toward the discussions with FIFA.
“That’s one of the things from our standpoint that will be really key in making sure that that is something that is good before any government guarantee discussions get going,” Giuliani said. “If that policy is in place, then I’m sure that discussions will progress pretty fast on this one.”
We’ll have to see whether or not Trump gets the assurances he’s seeking.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.