Several European football associations have expressed concerns that sending their national teams to the World Cup this summer could result in financial losses, despite record prize money of £539m approved by Fifa. The Guardian and PA Media investigation revealed that unusually high costs and inconsistencies in tax exemptions are among the issues Fifa is being urged to address.
About 10 FAs have shared their misgivings, most recently at Uefa's annual congress in Brussels. The concerns have been informally raised with senior Fifa officials, with one FA executive noting that some appear 'embarrassed' by the situation. Teams qualifying receive $9m (£6.7m) each from Fifa, plus $1.5m in preparation costs, but the daily allowance has been reduced from $850 to $600 per delegation member, potentially costing an FA around $500,000 less if its team remains for a month.
Some FAs calculate they will earn considerably less in the US, Canada, and Mexico than in Qatar. One fixture at international tournaments told the Guardian it expects to lose a sizeable sum if eliminated in the group stage or early knockout rounds. A key aggravating factor is the lack of a tax exemption agreement with the US, unlike Canada and Mexico, leading to vastly different financial outlooks depending on where teams are drawn to play. US state tax rates vary from 13.3% in California to 10.75% in New Jersey, disadvantaging teams based in lower-tax states or outside the US.
Additional cost drivers include the tournament's extensive travel demands, unfavourable exchange rates against the dollar, increased ticket prices, and the event's longer duration—28 days will only see the quarter-finals begin, compared to four weeks from opening game to final in Qatar. While some argue FAs are responsible for their own bonus structures, they note it would be unworkable to offer reduced packages compared to Qatar. Others point to potential long-term benefits from exposure to the North American market. Fifa was contacted for comment.
