US cities that hosted matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are seeking payments they say were promised by world football’s governing body for helping stage the tournament.
According to The Athletic, the host cities believe FIFA owes them significant sums after the governing body’s president, Gianni Infantino, announced before the tournament that each of the 11 US host cities would receive $1m.
The money was presented as a “legacy contribution” that would be used to develop mini-pitches and finance social projects in the communities involved in hosting the World Cup.
However, four executives representing host city committees have said FIFA has not yet distributed the promised payments.
Several of the cities are understood to have contacted FIFA to ask about the money, but they have reportedly received no acknowledgment.
The dispute involves all 11 US locations that hosted the tournament: Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Miami and Boston.
The promised $1m payment for each city means the total commitment across the United States would amount to $11m.
The payments were intended to leave a lasting benefit from the tournament beyond the matches themselves, with FIFA’s stated plans involving the construction of mini-pitches and other social initiatives.
The failure to distribute the money has now become an issue for the cities that took part in hosting the competition.
The host cities were responsible for helping stage World Cup matches, while the article says US taxpayer money was used to cover both direct and indirect costs connected with the tournament.
At the same time, FIFA retained most of the income generated from major World Cup revenue streams, including ticket sales, broadcasting and media rights, sponsorships, concessions and parking.
The contrast between public spending and FIFA’s control of tournament revenues has added significance to the cities’ pursuit of the promised contributions.
The 2026 World Cup was staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with 11 of the host cities located in the US.
For the American cities involved, the expected payments were intended to form part of the tournament’s long-term legacy rather than simply cover the immediate costs of hosting matches.
But according to the host city executives cited by The Athletic, those contributions have yet to arrive.
Some cities have already attempted to establish contact with FIFA about the outstanding money. The article says those efforts have so far failed to produce an acknowledgment from the governing body.
The issue leaves the host cities waiting for clarity over when, or whether, they will receive the funds that were publicly promised before the tournament.
FIFA’s proposed contribution was specifically linked to local development, with the money expected to support mini-pitches and social projects.
The 11 US host locations played a central role in staging the tournament, but the article says their committees are now pursuing the governing body over the financial commitment.
Four host city executives have confirmed that the promised payments have not been made, while several cities have reportedly approached FIFA without receiving a response.
The dispute therefore centres on an $11m commitment that was presented as part of the World Cup’s legacy in the United States.
With taxpayer funds used for tournament-related expenses and FIFA retaining most of the commercial revenue, the host cities are seeking the money they say they were promised for their communities.
