Former President Donald Trump proudly highlighted the role of the United States as the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2026 this past Sunday, describing the tournament as "one of the largest events of any kind ever held."
Trump expressed his pride in the country's hosting abilities in statements released by the official Rapid Response 47 account.
"There's never been anything like it, probably in terms of an event, whether you call it football or soccer," Trump stated.
He asserted that the tournament was "four times larger" than any previous FIFA World Cup and mentioned that, according to the latest information, it might be "five times larger."
"We are very proud of our country. We are very proud of the work everyone did," Trump declared, also extending his congratulations to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his team for "the incredible job they did."
Trump attended the final match on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey—the only game out of the 104 he attended in person—arriving via the presidential helicopter Marine One approximately 90 minutes before kickoff.
Together with Infantino, he awarded medals to the players and presented the trophy to Spain's captain Rodri Hernández, who also won the tournament's Golden Ball.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time with Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute, securing their second World Cup title, 16 years after their 2010 triumph in South Africa. Lionel Messi, in his final World Cup match, received his silver medal from Trump and was moved to tears at the event's conclusion.
The final was also attended by the King and Queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian leader Mark Carney, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Record-Breaking Attendance and Security
The tournament reported historic attendance figures. FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Monday that there were no "significant criminal incidents" throughout the championship, despite its scale.
"To put it in perspective, we had 6.5 million people attending the 78 matches in the United States across 11 venues," Patel noted.
The FBI described the operation as "essentially 78 Super Bowls in 38 days," coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security, local police, and 46 foreign security agencies, conducting 300,000 background checks on players, coaches, and staff.
The economic impact of the tournament reached approximately $20 billion for the United States and nearly $40 billion globally, making it the most profitable event in World Cup history.
Trump concluded his remarks by reflecting on the country's image: "People from all over the world have come and loved our country. It has shown our country in a different light. It was something great. It was a grand event."
FAQs About the 2026 World Cup in the U.S.
What made the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. unique?
The 2026 World Cup in the U.S. was unique due to its unprecedented scale, being described as four to five times larger than any previous FIFA World Cup. It also recorded historic attendance and economic impact.
How did the U.S. manage security during the World Cup?
Security for the World Cup was managed by coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security, local police, and 46 foreign agencies, resulting in no significant criminal incidents during the event.