ANDREW GIULIANI: How President Trumps World Cup vision showed America at its very best

When President Donald Trump set his sights on bringing the FIFA World Cup back to the United States in 2018, he wasn’t just thinking about soccer.He was thinking about legacy—about uniting a country, welcoming the world, and showing what American excellence looks like as we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday.I remember the moment he gave me my main mission: "Make it the best tournament ever." Simple, but not easy.

With President Trump, nothing is ever done halfway.Early in his second term, he established the White House Task Force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making clear this would be a whole-of-government effort.

We set out to deliver not only the largest and safest World Cup, but also the most welcoming and memorable tournament in history for fans, athletes, and communities across America.Looking back, I know only President Trump could have pulled this off.No other leader could have set such an ambitious vision and inspired a nation to rise to the challenge.

His lifelong experience in hospitality and his attention to detail set the standard for excellence and made this World Cup unforgettable.GERMAN WORLD CUP FAN BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS AFTER BEING BLOWN AWAY BY KINDNESS OF AMERICANSMore than 6.5 million fans attended matches across 16 host cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, nearly doubling the previous attendance record.There were 11 host cities in the United States alone.

During this World Cup, stadiums were filled to 99.7% capacity, while FIFA Fan Festivals welcomed another 7.7 million visitors.Fans from more than 150 countries experienced American hospitality firsthand, and the tournament generated more than 20 billion video views worldwide.Spain midfielder Rodri, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President Donald Trump talk during the award ceremony of the 2026 World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026.

(Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)Yet the numbers tell only pa...