Andrew Giuliani now serves as executive director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026, making him the nation's top official overseeing the tournament billed as the largest sporting event in history. The World Cup kicks off next month across 11 US host cities plus Canada and Mexico, with an estimated five million international visitors expected. His appointment reflects President Trump's pattern of elevating loyal family allies to high-stakes roles.

Questions swirl around the hire. A 76-day homeland security funding shutdown waylaid critical preparations, leaving much of Giuliani's team unpaid. Host cities like Kansas City reported diplomatic frustration with the position's seriousness. FIFA president Gianni Infantino publicly acknowledged him at the White House, but inside the organization, his soccer knowledge draws skepticism. Trump publicly backed him: "You better do well, Andrew."

Giuliani juggles security threats, visa concerns, runaway ticket prices, and volatile relations with Canada and Mexico. He's also navigating the president openly musing about relocating matches already planned. "If I'm the story of the World Cup," he said, "then the World Cup has not gone well." Managing this mix of geopolitics, public relations, and logistics will test whether the president's confidence in his appointee holds up under pressure.