Trump taps Andrew Giuliani to lead 2026 World Cup task force
Trump taps Andrew Giuliani to lead 2026 World Cup task force
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Trump, Carney debate annexing Canada as 51st state
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump debated annexing Canada as 51st state during a White House visit.
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump named Andrew Giuliani, son of close Trump ally Rudy Giuliani, executive director of the president's task force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the U.S. prepares to host to the international event.
"I've known him for a long time. He's a highly competitive golfer ‒ which I mean, really good ‒ and he's also a highly competitive person," Trump said, introducing Andrew Giuliani to the post during a May 6 task force meeting at the White House featuring FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Andrew Giuliani, who worked as a White House aide during Trump's first term, lost the 2022 Republican primary for New York governor to Lee Zeldin, who went on to lose to Gov. Kathy Hochul in the general election.
Giuliani's father, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, is a longtime Trump associate who was indicted in Georgia and Arizona for his role in helping Trump try to overturn the 2020 election results. Rudy Giuliani has pleaded not guilty.
More: FIFA says World Cup, Club World Cup could bring $47B in economic impact to US
The World Cup task force, chaired by Trump with Vice President JD Vance as the vice chair, includes other members of Trump's Cabinet. The group, created by a March 7 executive order, has been tasked with assisting on the planning, organization and execution of events surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which begins in June.
The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994. The 2026 World Cup of 48 national teams will bring 78 matches to 11 host cities in the U.S. The tournament will consist of 104 matches overall across North America, with additional games set for Canada and Mexico.
"One hundred and four games, Mr. President. One hundred and four Super Bowls in one month, " Infantino said to Trump said. "We'll have 6 billion viewers. The final alone will attract between two and three billion viewers. This is 15 times more than the Super Bowl."
More: Lionel Messi is thinking about playing in 2026 World Cup. Here's what he said.
The inaugural 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, featuring 32 soccer clubs from across the world competing in 63 matches, begins June 14 in Miami. Ten additional U.S. cities will host matches, with the finals set for July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
"These events will attract millions of passionate fans around the world, including my son," Trump said, referring to his 19-year-old son, Barron Trump. "This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the beauty and the greatness of America, and we can't wait to welcome soccer fans from all over the globe."
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
13 minutes ago
- Fox News
Musk says he regrets social media posts targeting Trump and more top headlines
1. Musk says he regrets social media posts targeting Trump 2. White House brings receipts after Newsom denies contact over LA riots 3. Trump vows consequences for 'animals' burning American flags CHAOS RETURNS – Rodney King riots officer says LA mayor acted 'too late' as anti-ICE violence engulfs city. Continue reading … ELITE UPSET – Liberal enclave in panic mode after ICE arrests dozens in wealthy vacation hotspot. Continue reading … AT A CROSSROADS – Final defense witness in Karen Read trial pumps brakes on prosecutors' case. Continue reading … DARK DESIRES – Diddy's alleged 'sexual deviant' behavior distracts from government's case. Continue reading … TORRID AFFAIR – Married counselor who enticed student into sexual encounters learns punishment. Continue reading … -- HERITAGE RESTORED – Crowd at Fort Bragg surprised with big announcement from Trump. Continue reading … POWER PLAY PAUSE – Trump tariffs survive as federal court overturns block in significant legal decision. Continue reading … TROUBLED WATERS – Democrat erupts at defense chief over submarine crisis as China's naval power grows. Continue reading … UNDER INDICTMENT – Democratic lawmaker faces prison after allegedly attacking federal agents at protest. Continue reading … EXIT STAGE LEFT – ABC News insider says there was 'no alternative' but for network to fire Terry Moran. Continue reading … PUSHING OUT THE FEDS – Dem demands ICE 'retreat' so locals can be 'given the opportunity to restore order.' Continue reading … ALL IN – New Hampshire enacts universal school choice, joining other states across the US. Continue reading … POINTING FINGERS – 'The View' co-host Sunny Hostin says ICE caused crisis in Los Angeles. Continue reading … SEN. RUBEN GALLEGO – Nuclear is the future – so why are Republicans blocking it? Continue reading … JOHN TEICHERT – US warfighters are losing a massive force multiplier advantage as China advances in space. Continue reading … -- SCARY SIPS – Your favorite alcoholic beverage could be linked to deadly form of cancer. Continue reading … 'NOT BUYING IT' – Social media rips Simone Biles' apology to Riley Gaines as PR statement. Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on festival firsts and summery snacks. Take the quiz here … FED UP – Americans slam fast-food favorite over their struggles with its sauce packets. Continue reading … LOOK WHO'S HOME – Military dad surprises family after year-long deployment. See video … SEN. JOHN KENNEDY – This is why the aliens won't talk to us. See video … MARC THIESSEN – Trump's responding to the anti-ICE riots exactly as he should. See video … Tune in to the FOX NEWS RUNDOWN PODCAST for today's in-depth reporting on the news that impacts you. Check it out ... What's it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading… Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday.
CNN
14 minutes ago
- CNN
With the 2026 World Cup one year away, the USMNT can't seem to win a game
With exactly one year to go until the start of the 2026 World Cup, things are not going to plan for the US Men's National Team (USMNT). The tournament, co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, is supposed to usher in a new era of men's soccer in the United States, a chance to prove itself on the world stage against the very best teams on the planet. But if recent results are anything to go by, the World Cup in 12 months could end up in a humiliating disappointment. The somewhat bleak outlook was laid bare Tuesday night after the USMNT was thrashed 4-0 by Switzerland during a friendly in Nashville. The game was over before halftime, with Switzerland scoring its fourth goal after 36 minutes. Those fans inside the stadium let their voices be heard, with boos ringing around Geodis Park. Make no mistake, Switzerland is a very capable side with a number of top class players but it's a level the US needs to be comfortable playing against if it stands any chance of progressing out of the group stage at the World Cup. The defeat means the US is now winless in its last eight games against European opposition and on a four-match losing streak in all competitions. After the loss, US head coach Mauricio Pochettino blamed himself for the inexperienced starting lineup he chose to use against Switzerland. Defender Nathan Harriel and midfielder Quinn Sullivan were both making their first start, while Sebastian Berhalter, son of former head coach Gregg Berhalter, made his debut. Five changes were made at the break and the US looked more comfortable in the second half, albeit after Switzerland took its foot off the gas. 'It was my decision and that decision didn't work. And when that doesn't work, you need to criticize yourself,' Pochettino told reporters after the match. Despite missing several of its regular starters, the defeat will pile yet more pressure on Pochettino. His appointment last year was supposedly a sign of intent, with the Argentine considered among the best managers in world soccer. Pochettino had previous success in building projects, perhaps most notably at Tottenham Hotspur where he guided the team to a Champions League final in 2019. He then went on to manage Paris-Saint Germain and Chelsea – although he arguably failed to hit the heights expected at both clubs. When he was announced as US manager back in September, US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said he was confident Pochettino was 'the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad.' And, speaking to CNN Sports shortly after taking up his new role, Pochettino was positive about the future of the team. 'The culture is there, the culture of the country is there. Everything has a very good mentality,' he said at the time. Fast forward nine months and that rosy picture is beginning to look a little more lethargic. Since taking over from previous head coach Berhalter, Pochettino has overseen a 5-5 record, including some very poor performances – including a defeat to Panama. The form of the team has unsurprisingly drawn criticism. Speaking to CNN Sports in April, former US striker Clint Dempsey said he was 'a six or seven right now' when asked how worried he was out of 10 about the team. Little has happened since then to give him any more confidence. The USMNT's most successful coach, Bruce Arena, has also voiced his dissatisfaction, questioning whether Pochettino is the right man for the job. 'I think when you have coaches that don't know our culture, our environment, our players, it's hard,' Arena said on the 'Unfiltered Soccer' podcast earlier this year. 'I'm sure our coach is a very good coach, but coaching international football is different than club football. It's a completely different job.' With the pressure rising around the manager, the players have been saying the right things in public. After the defeat against Switzerland, experienced defender Walker Zimmerman said there was still time to recover some positive form ahead of the World Cup. 'I think it's really easy to look at one game, one half and be like, oh, this is all going to pieces; they can't come back from this,' Zimmerman told TNT Sports. 'But you look even to the buildup to the 2022 (World Cup), we take down Morocco 3-0 and they make it into the semifinal. Things change – that was six months apart. 'It's not the end of the world. We accept that it's not good enough and we realize that and that's where the disappointment comes in. We have to flip the script and make sure we don't come out like that ever again.' Attention will now turn to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a competition the US has won seven times. The USMNT will start its campaign against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, before facing Saudi Arabia and Haiti in its other group games. Preparation for the tournament could barely have been any worse, so Pochettino will hope to use the run of games to develop a more positive feeling around the team. You sense nothing short of a run to the final will appease those worried about the direction of this project. Although, to add further insult to injury, the US will be without many of its top players for the tournament. Christian Pulisic, arguably the best player in the team, is not available for selection due to fatigue, a decision which had led to some criticism of the winger's commitment to the team. Meanwhile, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah are both away with Juventus at the Club World Cup, while PSV defender Sergiño Dest pulled out of the squad to focus on fully recovering from an ACL injury. It means the team most likely to play the opening game of the World Cup next year will miss out on what could have been important minutes together on the pitch. On Tuesday, Pochettino bemoaned the lack of time he's had with his full squad and said it was a 'massive challenge' to prepare for the World Cup. 'It's difficult to have continuity and balance,' he said. For some of his critics, Pochettino's words may sound like yet more excuses for a run of poor performances which has dampened the excitement ahead of next year's tournament. The one positive, though, is that there is still time for the team to click and 12 months to find a winning formula that could make the World Cup as successful as many had once hoped.
Chicago Tribune
14 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
LA police enforce downtown curfew as protests continue against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police swiftly enforced a downtown curfew Tuesday night, making arrests moments after it took effect, while deploying officers on horseback and using crowd control projectiles to break up a group of hundreds demonstrating against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Members of the National Guard stood watch behind plastic shields, but did not appear to participate in the arrests. Chicago protesters march against Trump's immigration crackdown as demonstrations pop up across the countryHours later, many of the protesters had dispersed, although sporadic confrontations continued that were much smaller than in previous nights. Officials said the curfew was necessary to stop vandalism and theft by agitators looking to cause trouble. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier accused Trump of drawing a 'military dragnet' across the nation's second-largest city with his escalating use of the National Guard. He also deployed Marines, though none were seen on the streets Tuesday. Newsom asked a court to put an emergency stop to the military helping federal immigration agents, with some guardsmen now standing in protection around agents as they carried out arrests. He said it would only heighten tensions and promote civil unrest. The judge set a hearing for Thursday, giving the administration several days to continue those activities. The change moves troops closer to engaging in law enforcement actions like deportations as Trump has promised as part of his administration's immigration crackdown. The Guard has the authority to temporarily detain people who attack officers but any arrests ultimately would be made by law enforcement. Trump has activated more than 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines over the objections of city and state leaders. They were originally deployed to protect federal buildings. Demonstrations have spread to other cities nationwide, including Dallas and Austin, Texas, Chicago and New York, where a thousand people rallied and multiple arrests were made. In Texas, where police in Austin used chemical irritants to disperse several hundred demonstrators Monday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's office said Texas National Guard troops were 'on standby' in areas where demonstrations are planned, Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said Tuesday evening. Guard members were deployed to San Antonio, according to assistant police chief Jesse Salame. He said he did not know how many were sent or details on the deployment. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency on the fifth day of protests and said the curfew will run from 8 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday. She said it was expected to last for several days. 'We reached a tipping point' after 23 businesses were looted, Bass said during a news conference Tuesday. The curfew covers a 1 square mile (2.5 square kilometers) section of downtown that includes the area where protests have occurred since Friday. The city of Los Angeles encompasses roughly 500 square miles (1,295 square kilometers). The curfew doesn't apply to residents who live in the designated area, people who are homeless, credentialed media or public safety and emergency officials, according to Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. McDonnell said 'unlawful and dangerous behavior' had been escalating since Saturday. 'The curfew is a necessary measure to protect lives and safeguard property following several consecutive days of growing unrest throughout the city,' McDonnell said. Trump left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, which authorizes the president to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations. It's one of the most extreme emergency powers available to a U.S. president. 'If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We'll see,' he said from the Oval Office. Later the president called protesters 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy' in a speech at Fort Bragg ostensibly to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth. In a public address Tuesday evening, Newsom called Trump's actions the start of an 'assault' on democracy. 'California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next,' he said. Newsom warned people against inciting violence, but urged them to stand up to the president's actions. 'What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty, your silence. To be complicit in this moment,' he said. 'Do not give it to him.' The protests began Friday after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend, and police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. The demonstrations have been mostly concentrated downtown in the city of 4 million. Thousands of people have peacefully rallied outside City Hall and hundreds more protested outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids. Despite the protests, immigration enforcement activity has continued throughout the county, with city leaders and community groups reporting ICE present at libraries, car washes and Home Depots. School graduations in Los Angeles have increased security over fears of ICE action and some have offered parents the option to watch on Zoom. McDonnell said that police had made 197 arrests on Tuesday, including 67 who were taken into custody for unlawfully occupying part of the 101 freeway. Several businesses were broken into Monday, though authorities didn't say if the looting was tied to the protests. The vast majority of arrests have been for failing to disperse, while a few others were for assault with a deadly weapon, looting, vandalism and attempted murder for tossing a Molotov cocktail. Seven police officers were reportedly injured, and at least two were taken to a hospital and released. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested Tuesday that the use of troops inside the U.S. will continue to expand. The Pentagon said deploying the National Guard and Marines costs $134 million.
