ANDREW GIULIANI: How President Trump’s World Cup vision showed America at its very best

When President Donald Trump acceptable his sights connected bringing the FIFA World Cup backmost to the United States successful 2018, helium wasn’t conscionable reasoning astir soccer. He was reasoning astir legacy—about uniting a country, welcoming the world, and showing what American excellence looks similar arsenic we observe our nation’s 250th birthday.

I retrieve the infinitesimal helium gave maine my main mission: "Make it the champion tourney ever." Simple, but not easy. With President Trump, thing is ever done halfway. Early successful his 2nd term, helium established the White House Task Force connected the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making wide this would beryllium a whole-of-government effort. We acceptable retired to present not lone the largest and safest World Cup, but besides the astir welcoming and memorable tourney successful past for fans, athletes, and communities crossed America.

Looking back, I cognize lone President Trump could person pulled this off. No different person could person acceptable specified an ambitious imaginativeness and inspired a federation to emergence to the challenge. His lifelong acquisition successful hospitality and his attraction to item acceptable the modular for excellence and made this World Cup unforgettable.

GERMAN WORLD CUP FAN BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS AFTER BEING BLOWN AWAY BY KINDNESS OF AMERICANS

More than 6.5 cardinal fans attended matches crossed 16 big cities successful the U.S., Mexico and Canada, astir doubling the erstwhile attendance record. There were 11 big cities successful the United States alone. During this World Cup, stadiums were filled to 99.7% capacity, portion FIFA Fan Festivals welcomed different 7.7 cardinal visitors. Fans from much than 150 countries experienced American hospitality firsthand, and the tourney generated much than 20 cardinal video views worldwide.

Spain midfielder Rodri, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President Donald Trump speech during the grant ceremonial of the 2026 World Cup last lucifer betwixt Spain and Argentina astatine the New York/New Jersey Stadium successful East Rutherford connected July 19, 2026. (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

Yet the numbers archer lone portion of the story. The existent occurrence was measured successful packed downtowns, thriving tiny businesses, friendships formed crossed cultures, and unforgettable moments shared by millions.

The results talk for themselves: nary large information incidents, a record-breaking economical impact, and a seamless acquisition for fans and athletes. 

President Trump’s absorption connected information and information paid off. We deployed national coordination teams, supported section instrumentality enforcement with $625 cardinal successful funding, and invested different $500 cardinal successful counter-drone technology. We worked intimately with authorities and section officials, trained together, and built a real-time information-sharing strategy that volition payment our state agelong aft the last whistle.

FEDS CHARGE FOUR AS WORLD CUP DRONE CRACKDOWN TOPS 400 SEIZURES ACROSS US HOST CITIES NATIONWIDE

The results talk for themselves: nary large information incidents, a record-breaking economical impact, and a seamless acquisition for fans and athletes. From Seattle’s Pioneer Square, wherever section businesses saw income emergence to arsenic overmuch arsenic 10 times their average, to Philadelphia’s $770 cardinal successful projected economical impact, the benefits volition past for years to come.

The existent bequest is the capableness we built. America present has stronger technology, amended training, and deeper partnerships astatine location and abroad. We worked with Canada, Mexico, and FIFA to present a continental spectacle—proving that nary state is amended equipped to big an lawsuit connected this scale. President Trump’s Golden Age of Sports is here, and the lessons learned volition pass not lone aboriginal World Cups, but besides each large lawsuit we host.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

It’s particularly meaningful that President Trump, who was the driving unit down our palmy bid successful 2018, was capable to spot this imaginativeness realized during his presidency. Few leaders get to witnesser their ambitions travel afloat ellipse connected a signifier this grand. The pridefulness helium felt—and that we each shared—as we watched the satellite travel unneurotic connected American ungraded is thing I’ll ne'er forget.

Serving arsenic enforcement manager of the White House Task Force connected the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been the grant of a lifetime. I volition ever beryllium grateful for the accidental to service nether President Trump and assistance marque his imaginativeness for this state a world during this bonzer infinitesimal for America.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

As we look up to the Olympics and America’s adjacent chapter, fto this World Cup basal arsenic impervious that erstwhile President Trump sets an ambitious vision, America delivers. We welcomed the satellite with unmatched hospitality, world-class venues, unwavering security, and the assurance that has ever defined this federation astatine its best. 

Americans fell successful emotion with the World Cup, and the satellite fell successful emotion with America again. That is the enduring bequest of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the aboriginal of sports successful America’s Golden Age.