U.S. cities chase FIFA over millions promised after hosting World Cup games

U.S. cities that served as hosts for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are reportedly pursuing FIFA for millions of dollars in promised funding that has yet to materialize. The dispute centers on a reported verbal commitment by FIFA to provide each of the 11 U.S. host cities with a $1 million "legacy contribution." These funds were intended to support community projects and local initiatives.

The commitment originated from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, also held in the United States. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced ahead of that tournament that the governing body would allocate $1 million to each of the 11 host cities. Following this, cities selected for the larger 2026 World Cup reportedly inquired about similar contributions, given the significant scale and costs associated with hosting.

According to anonymous executives involved with U.S. World Cup host city committees, FIFA senior officials verbally assured them of the $1 million contribution during meetings, though FIFA never made a public announcement regarding these specific payments. The 11 U.S. host cities include Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Miami, and Boston.

However, the funds have reportedly not been disbursed, leading some host cities to seek clarification from FIFA regarding the release timeline. FIFA has declined to comment on the matter. The delay poses a challenge, particularly for host committees that are now winding down their operations, raising questions about which entities would manage any eventual payments. Some committees are also uncertain how to account for the anticipated FIFA contribution in their financial reports.