US 2026 World Cup host cities chase unpaid $1M FIFA legacy payments

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 2026 host cities they would receive the same amount. However, the payments have not materialized, and several host committees are now asking for updates as they wind down operations. The unpaid funds add to the challenges facing Infantino, who is already under fire from UEFA and others after the collapse of a plan to sell a stake in FIFA competitions. FIFA declined to comment. U.S. taxpayers contributed billions to the tournament's costs, while FIFA retained most revenue from ticketing, media rights, and sponsorship.