Several host cities of the 2026 World Cup in the United States are reportedly seeking millions of dollars from FIFA over unpaid funding that was promised to them. According to The Athletic, many cities are still waiting for the money, which was pledged verbally by FIFA's senior management but has not been paid.
Background of the dispute
The controversy follows a series of issues involving FIFA after the tournament, which took place in North America earlier this summer. During the World Cup, a dispute arose over Donald Trump's intervention after Folarin Balogun was sent off before the USA faced Belgium in the round of 16. FIFA later confirmed that Balogun's red card had been suspended for one year, allowing him to play in the crucial match.
More recently, a controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors sparked widespread criticism. This led to Gianni Infantino scrapping the proposal and losing the support of several FIFA colleagues.
The promise of $1 million per city
Ahead of the Club World Cup, held in the USA in the summer of 2025, Infantino announced that FIFA would contribute $1 million (£743,955) to each of the 11 host cities. This was described as a "legacy contribution" to build football pitches and support social projects.
Following that announcement, the World Cup host cities asked FIFA if they would receive the same amount for their more substantial role in staging matches during the World Cup. The report claims those cities were privately promised an identical $1 million payout, despite no public statement being made by the governing body.
Unpaid funds and city expenses
So far, the money has not been paid. Express Sport has approached FIFA for comment. The governing body generated the vast majority of revenue from World Cup ticket sales, media rights, sponsorships, concessions, and parking. Meanwhile, host cities reportedly had to cover costs for transportation, safety, and security, extending beyond stadiums to fan parks, airports, and vehicles.
Before the tournament, FIFA promoted a report claiming that around $30.5 billion (£22.68 billion) would be injected into the US economy. The host cities were Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Miami, and Boston.
