U.S. WORLD CUP HOST CITIES DEMAND UNPAID $11M FIFA LEGACY FUNDS
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By: Balogun Ibrahim
Several U.S. cities that hosted matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup are reportedly demanding millions of dollars in payments they claim FIFA promised but has yet to deliver.
The dispute centres on an alleged verbal commitment by FIFA to provide each of the 11 U.S. host cities with a $1 million “legacy contribution” to fund community projects and other local initiatives.
The issue traces back to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, also held in the United States.
Before that tournament, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that each of the 11 cities hosting Club World Cup matches would receive $1 million as a legacy fund to support projects such as mini football pitches and community development programmes.
Following the announcement, officials from the U.S. cities selected to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup reportedly sought confirmation that they would receive the same financial support, considering the larger scale and higher costs of staging the tournament.
According to four executives from U.S. World Cup host city committees, who spoke anonymously, senior FIFA officials repeatedly assured them during meetings that the $1 million contribution would also be extended to the 2026 host cities. However, the commitment was reportedly made verbally and was never publicly announced by FIFA.
The affected U.S. host cities include Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Miami and Boston.
Despite the assurances, the funds have reportedly not been disbursed, prompting several host cities to seek clarification from FIFA on when the payments will be made.
FIFA declined to comment when contacted by The Athletic.
The delay has created uncertainty for several host committees, particularly those nearing the end of their operations after the tournament. Some are unsure which organisations would be responsible for receiving and managing the funds if they are eventually released.
Others are finalising financial reports for local and state authorities but remain uncertain whether the anticipated FIFA contribution should be reflected in their accounts.
Two host city executives reportedly criticised the situation, questioning why FIFA would delay relatively modest payments after generating more than $15 billion in revenue during its 2023–2026 financial cycle.
FIFA’s operating budget for the 2026 World Cup was estimated at approximately $2.7 billion.
The controversy comes as Infantino also faces mounting pressure over strained relations with UEFA and other football governing bodies following the collapse of plans to sell a stake in FIFA’s competitions and commercial events to private investors.
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