TA: The host cities of the US World Cup are demanding promised payments from FIFA, which declined to comment.

According to The Athletic, the U.S. host city for the 2026 World Cup is currently demanding millions of dollars in unfulfilled commitments from FIFA.

Even before the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States was scheduled to take place, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that he would allocate $1 million to each of the 11 U.S. cities hosting the event. Infantino called the funding a "legacy contribution" and planned to use it to build mini-stadiums and support local "social projects."

Following this announcement, host cities for the 2026 World Cup inquired whether they could receive the same $1 million in support, given their heavier and more costly task of hosting multiple World Cup matches within 39 days.

According to four anonymous executives from the U.S. host city committee, although FIFA has never issued an official statement, its management has repeatedly assured the cities that they will receive the same $1 million legacy contribution.

These 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.

Four senior executives stated that FIFA officials had made a verbal promise and reiterated it to the cities in subsequent meetings. However, the payment has yet to be received, leading some cities to inquire with FIFA staff about the payment progress.

The Athletic has contacted FIFA about this matter, but the organization declined to comment.

For the host cities, the current predicament is intensifying. Some organizing committees are already in the final stages of preparation after the event, making it difficult to even determine which entity should ultimately receive the funds. Other cities are submitting financial reports to their jurisdictions and governing bodies, but are unsure whether to include this outstanding payment in their accounts.

Two executives from the host city told The Athletic that they simply couldn't understand why FIFA, with revenues exceeding $15 billion in the 2023-2026 cycle and an operating budget of approximately $2.7 billion for this tournament, would delay or be ambiguous about such relatively small sums.

This is just one of the growing problems facing FIFA President Gianni Infantino. With his plan to sell some of FIFA's events and activities to private investors failing, he is facing attacks from UEFA and other continental football federations.

During the 2026 World Cup, American taxpayers will bear a large portion of the direct and indirect costs, with related expenditures easily reaching billions of dollars, covering multiple aspects such as security, transportation, logistics, and operations.

FIFA owns the lion's share of the revenue from World Cup tickets, media rights, sponsorships, catering, and parking, while cities bear the main expenses for transportation and security. These costs even extend to FIFA fan festival venues, airports, and official event vehicles outside the stadiums.

For example, the Kansas City World Cup organizing committee told The Athletic that it has received $42.5 million from Missouri, $28 million from Kansas, $14.8 million from Kansas City (Missouri), and $1.5 million from other public sources, totaling $86.8 million in public investment. In addition, there is $59.52 million in federal security aid and $13.3 million in federal transportation grants.

While some private donations were also received, the non-profit organizing committee responsible for transportation, logistics, and fan festivals during the World Cup declined to disclose specific amounts. Missouri even decided to waive state and local sales taxes on World Cup tickets in its bid to host Kansas City. According to The Athleti's analysis, this means the state forwent $15.6 million in tax revenue, and the actual amount is likely higher as VIP hospitality costs are not included.

The host city's obligations also include: providing dedicated access and police escorts for FIFA-designated VIPs, paying a six-figure "clearing" fee, removing all traces of non-FIFA sponsor brands, and investing an additional $13 million to ensure that the MetLife Stadium is properly paved with turf suitable for hosting the World Cup final on July 20.

Before the World Cup, the outside world often focuses on rising costs and who will foot the bill. However, FIFA and the host city both believe that this tournament will bring huge returns to the United States through tourism and various activities nationwide. FIFA has also frequently cited a report stating that this World Cup will inject $30.5 billion into the US economy.