The U.S. signed up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup - and its 11 host cities are paying for it

Key Points:

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, has led to significant financial burdens on U.S. host cities, with costs including infrastructure upgrades, security, and lost tax revenues largely borne by local governments and taxpayers.
• FIFA retains the majority of revenue from ticket sales, media rights, sponsorships, and other sources, while host cities cover extensive expenses such as transportation, safety, and stadium modifications, leading to frustration among city officials over the limited direct benefits.
• Host cities face strict FIFA demands, including removing stadium naming rights, banning local sponsorships conflicting with FIFA partners, and controlling branding and fan festival suppliers, which restricts their ability to recoup costs through local partnerships.
• Ahead of the 2031 Women’s World Cup bid, many U.S. host cities have expressed reluctance to agree to similar terms without meaningful negotiations, citing unresolved financial and operational challenges from the 2026 arrangements.
• Despite public positivity, behind-the-scenes tensions persist between FIFA and host cities, with calls for a revised cost-sharing model and greater revenue participation to ensure future events deliver more equitable value to host communities.