U.S. Host Cities Demand $1 Million Legacy Payments from FIFA

Several cities in the United States that hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup are seeking $1 million legacy payments from FIFA, which have not yet been delivered. Four members of the FIFA World Cup host city committees claim that FIFA executives assured them in private meetings that each city would receive these funds for local football infrastructure and community-based social initiatives.

City officials have been actively pursuing FIFA for these payments following FIFA President Gianni Infantino's announcement that host cities for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, also in the U.S., would receive similar legacy awards. The cities involved include New York/New Jersey, LA, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, Seattle, and San Francisco.

This situation arises amidst FIFA's record revenues of $15 billion from 2023 to 2026, while Infantino faces criticism for failing to secure investors for FIFA World Cup plans, particularly from UEFA and various football federations.