Several U.S. cities that hosted matches in the 2026 World Cup are reportedly seeking millions of dollars in payments from FIFA, which they claim were verbally promised as legacy contributions. According to reports from The Athletic, these cities were led to believe they would receive the same $1 million payment that FIFA President Gianni Infantino pledged to host cities of the 2025 Club World Cup.
Four unnamed executives from U.S. host city committees allege that FIFA senior management repeatedly assured them of this $1 million contribution, a promise reiterated in meetings. However, more than two weeks after the tournament's final match, these funds have reportedly not been disbursed. This situation is creating difficulties for city committees as they finalize post-tournament operations and consider where to allocate such funds if received. Some are also uncertain whether to include the expected payment in their financial reports to local authorities.
The U.S. had 11 host cities for the recent World Cup: Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Miami, and Boston. FIFA's operating budget for the tournament was estimated at $2.7 billion, and the organization reported revenues exceeding $15 billion between 2023 and 2026. Host cities, meanwhile, bore significant costs for transportation, security, stadium operations, and Fan Fest locations, with U.S. taxpayers contributing substantially through direct and indirect funding. For instance, the Kansas City host committee reported receiving nearly $87 million in public investment from state and local sources, along with federal security and transportation grants totaling over $26 million.
This dispute comes at a challenging time for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is facing calls to resign. These calls intensified after reports emerged of a controversial proposal to sell a $4.2 billion stake in FIFA's flagship tournament to a private equity firm. The plan was reportedly scrapped following opposition from continental confederations, including UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC.
Amidst this turmoil, reports suggested Infantino was seeking to leverage his relationship with former President Donald Trump, with claims of an impending call to a high-ranking U.S. official. However, these reports were subsequently denied by the State Department. A FIFA spokesperson also stated that the FIFA President had not recently contacted the U.S. President or administration members, calling such claims "pure fiction."