U.S. World Cup host cities seek $1m legacy payments from FIFA after hosting matches

US cities that hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup are pursuing the soccer governing body over the millions they were promised.  According to The Athletic, these cities believe they were entitled to receive substantial payments from FIFA for hosting the tournament. Prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared that each […] 2026 World Cup: FIFA yet to pay host cities – Report

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Multiple United States (US) cities that hosted World Cup matches are seeking millions of dollars they believe world soccer's governing body FIFA promised them, The Athletic reported on Tuesday. Four executives from World Cup cities, speaking anonymously, told the outlet that FIFA management told them they would each receive $1 million in "legacy" funds to build football-related infrastructure and support "social projects". The Athletic reported that officials from the cities had requested the payments after Gianni Infantino, head of global football's governing body, announced such payments to host cities of the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States. "According to four executives at US host city committees, all of whom asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, FIFA management repeatedly assured the cities they would receive the same $1 million contribution towards legacy, despite no public statement ever being made by the organisation," The Athletic wrote. "The four executives said this promise was made verbally by members of FIFA's senior management, and reiterated to cities in meetings, but it has not been paid, meaning several cities are now asking FIFA staff for updates on the payments." The US cities of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Boston and New York/New Jersey were among the host venues for the World Cup held in the US, Canada and Mexico. The 39-day tournament, expanded to 48 teams for the first time, has contributed to record FIFA revenues reportedly hitting $15 billion for the revenue cycle of 2023-26. The report is the latest black mark for Infantino, who is under fire from European confederation UEFA and some of its counterparts, as well as some within FIFA, over his since-abandoned proposal to open the World Cup to private investment.

Several US cities that staged World Cup matches are pressing FIFA for millions of dollars they say were promised to support football infrastructure and community projects, according to an Atheltic report that adds to growing scrutiny of the governing body under president Gianni Infantino.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was already under pressure from the footballing world for his plan to sell a stake in the World Cup. Infantino is now facing even more scrutiny for failing to fulfil a promise he made to the 2026 World Cup host cities.

Eleven different U.S. cities are still trying to get paid what they’re owed by FIFA after hosting 2026 World Cup club matches.FIFA President Gianni Infantino reportedly verbally promised Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Miami, and Boston each $1 million for their hosting troubles, calling it a “legacy contribution.” While FIFA made no public statement about the payments, four executives at U.S. host city committees told The Athletic that FIFA management repeatedly reassured them about the payment.Now, nearly a month after the World Cup ended—and after Infantino’s U-turn on his disastrous plan to sell stakes in the international competition—all of those cities are still waiting for their payouts.“The absolute, utter stupidity of these host city executives for not getting this in writing,” said Pablo Iglesias Maurer, a soccer reporter for The Guardian. “I can’t even wrap my head around this—It’s FIFA, FFS. You’re taking Gianni Infantino’s word for it?”It doesn’t make much sense that FIFA can’t make an $11 million total payment after the profit from ticketing, media rights, and private donations. The tournament made over $15 billion in revenue from 2023 through the end of the 2026 World Cup, and FIFA only had a tournament operation budget of $2.7 billion. Meanwhile, hosts like Kansas City have had to dip into state funding to cover the costs.FIFA is one of the most historically corrupt organizations in all of sports, if not the entire world. And if Infantino’s been taking any cues from Trump, those cities won’t be seeing that money anytime soon.

Four unnamed executives at US host city committees reportedly claim that FIFA 'repeatedly assured' the cities that they would receive the same $1m contribution, despite never making a public statement.

Four unnamed executives at US host city committees reportedly claim that FIFA 'repeatedly assured' the cities that they would receive the same $1m contribution, despite never making a public statement.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced last year that host cities for the 2025 Club World Cup would receive $1m.