President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a White House task force for the 2026 World Cup that will oversee preparations for the high-profile tournament on Friday.

The task force, first reported by OutKick, will be chaired by Trump.

His Vice President JD Vance will serve as vice chair and an executive director, to be named later, will run day-to-day operations.

“We’re going to be establishing a task force, a very important task force … and that’s on the FIFA World Cup of 2026 which is, you know, is a big event,” Trump said. “It’s going to be the biggest event, I think.”

The task force will coordinate with federal agencies to plan and execute the massive job of hosting both the 2025 Club World Cup and the World Cup a year later, the draft fact sheet outlines. More than 8 million international visitors are expected to come to the US for the monthlong tournament that kicks off in June 2026. Trump said he does plan to attend some matches.

This role is not a new terrain for Trump who was president in 2018 when the United States (US) won the bid to co-host the tournament with Canada and Mexico and views bringing the expanded 48-team soccer showcase to the US as a significant accomplishment. 

He at times has had a replica of the World Cup trophy displayed behind his desk in the Oval Office. He said the current tensions with Mexico and Canada will “make it more exciting.”

“It’s a great honor for our country to have it. Actually, it’s a big deal. It’s, I don’t know which is bigger, the Olympics of the World Cup,” Trump said, alluding to the Summer Games coming to Los Angeles in 2028

The president signed the executive order on Friday, a day after CNN reported that travel executives were concerned over the nation’s preparedness to host the quadrennial tournament.

US will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside neighbours, Canada and Mexico.