US World Cup host cities chase unpaid $1M legacy payments from FIFA

Published Aug 4, 11:33 AM UTC

Multiple U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are seeking millions of dollars in promised legacy payments from FIFA that have not been paid. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had announced a $1 million contribution per host city for the 2025 Club World Cup, and FIFA management verbally assured cities they would receive the same amount for the 2026 World Cup. However, the payments have not materialized, and host committees are winding down operations, complicating the process. FIFA declined to comment. The issue adds to mounting pressure on Infantino, who is already facing backlash from UEFA and others over a collapsed plan to sell a stake in FIFA competitions to private investors. U.S. taxpayers contributed billions to the tournament's costs, while FIFA retained most revenue from ticketing, media rights, and sponsorship.