On Tuesday, President Trump revealed that Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, will head the White House task force for the World Cup.
This task force, created via executive order in March, is focused on planning and organizing events related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This includes activities surrounding next month’s FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament and matches in a variety of U.S. cities.
Trump shared, “We are proud to announce that Andrew Giuliani has been appointed executive director of the President’s Task Force at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Andrew’s role will involve coordinating with government agencies in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
At 39, Giuliani previously worked as a special assistant in the White House Public Liaison Office and as an associate director during Trump’s first term. He was instrumental in developing a system that allowed athletes worldwide to re-enter the U.S. during its reopening in 2020.
Trump also announced that Carlos Cordeiro will serve as a senior advisor. Cordeiro currently advises FIFA and previously led the U.S. Football Federation while overseeing the 2026 World Cup preparations.
Trump expressed confidence in Andrew and Carlos, stating, “We know that they will work tirelessly to make the 2026 FIFA World Cup an unprecedented success. Congratulations to both!”
During the task force’s inaugural public meeting at the White House, Trump promised that the 2026 World Cup would be “the largest, safest, and most extraordinary football tournament in history.” He noted how excited they are to welcome soccer fans globally, mentioning that his youngest son, Barron, is a big fan of the sport.
Andrew’s father, Rudy Giuliani, has had a longstanding relationship with Trump, previously serving as his lawyer. Andrew first caught public attention at a young age when his father was influenced by Chris Farley’s comedic skits on “Saturday Night Live” that played off Andrew’s reactions during Rudy’s mayoral speeches in the early ’90s.
After his tenure in the Trump administration, Andrew pursued a bid for New York governor in 2021, ultimately losing to current EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who was defeated by Governor Kathy Hochul in the general election.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches scheduled in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco, from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Events are expected to draw significant crowds, and the White House anticipates a notable boost for local businesses, which may lead to infrastructure development and job creation.
The White House stated that there could be an economic impact of up to 450,000 visitors and potentially generate around $480 million.
The Club World Cup is set to begin on June 14th, coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, and will run until July 13th, featuring matches across 12 U.S. cities.
