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Multiple US host cities for the 2026 World Cup are reportedly chasing FIFA for 'millions of dollars' they claim have so far gone unpaid after being promised to them.
According to The Athletic, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced before the 2025 Club World Cup that soccer's governing body would make a contribution of $1 million to each of the 11 cities across the country who were hosting matches at the tournament that year.
After Infantino's pledge, the cities scheduled to host World Cup games this year asked if they would receive the same windfall – described as a 'legacy contribution' to help build mini-pitches and support social projects – for the more costly task of staging multiple games across the 39-day international tournament.
Four unnamed executives at US host city committees reportedly claim that FIFA 'repeatedly assured' the cities that they would receive the same $1m contribution, despite never making a public statement on the matter.
The executives allege that this promise was made verbally by members of FIFA's senior management and then reiterated to them in meetings, yet it has still not been paid more than two weeks since the final.
US host cities for the 2026 World Cup are reportedly chasing FIFA for 'millions of dollars'
Four unnamed executives at host city committees claim to have been promised a $1m payment each before this summer's World Cup
Several cities are therefore chasing FIFA staff for updates on the payments, which comes as yet another blow for the embattled Infantino as he faces calls to step down over his failed bid to sell off the World Cup to private investors.
The Daily Mail has approached FIFA for comment.
The US had 11 host cities at this summer's World Cup: Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Miami and Boston.
FIFA's alleged failure to make the payment is providing some of the cities with difficulty given they are now wrapping up post-tournament operations, leaving them unsure which area is best to invest the $1m in if they eventually receive it.
Other cities are also drawing up financial reports to their jurisdictions and authorities, but they do not know whether to include the payment when doing so.
FIFA's operating budget for the tournament was believed to be around $2.7bn. Two unnamed host city execs reportedly found it 'difficult to understand' how an organization with revenues in excess of $15bn from 2023-26 has been unable to make the $1m payments to each city.
The governing body took the lion's share of the revenue from World Cup ticketing, media rights, sponsorship, concessions and parking, with cities responsible for the costs related to transportation, safety and security in stadiums, Fan Fest locations, airports and vehicles used in the competition.
US taxpayers also contributed to direct and indirect costs of the tournament. According to The Athletic's report, the Kansas City host committee for the World Cup claims to have received $42.5m from the State of Missouri, $28m from the State of Kansas, $14.8m from Kansas City, Missouri, and $1.5m from other public sources, totaling almost $87m of public investment. There was also $59.52m in federal security assistance and $13.3m in federal grants for transportation.
A total of 11 US cities, including Kansas City (pictured), staged World Cup games this summer
Host city obligations at the tournament included creating special access traffic lines and police escorts for FIFA-designated VIPs and six-figure costs for making 'clean stadiums' with only FIFA branding on show. There was also a $13m injection to make sure MetLife Stadium in New Jersey had a suitable pitch to host the final on July 19.
The bombshell report comes as Infantino prepares for crunch talks with the White House in a bid to save his job in the wake of his failed bid to sell the World Cup.
The FIFA boss sparked an open revolt when The Times first revealed his outlandish plan to sell a $4.2 bn (£3.1bn) stake in FIFA's flagship tournament to a private equity firm led by Joshua Kushner.
The proposals have since been scrapped after opposition from UEFA, the North, Central America and Caribbean confederation (CONCACAF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
And as Infantino battles to save his job, the New York Post has claimed that he is now turning to his biggest ally – Donald Trump – to help him survive.
The paper reported that he was due to hold a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 9am EST (2pm BST) Monday as pressure rises on the FIFA president to resign from his role.
An insider told the Post: 'He wanted to get online with the secretary and talk about how soccer can be a form of soft power for America. But we all know that it is about job protection. It is not about anything else at this point.'
It is the latest blow for Gianni Infantino as he battles to save his job as FIFA President this week
Infantino, who failed in his bid to sell the World Cup, is leaning on ally Donald Trump for help
A second source described Infantino as feeling 'isolated' by the 'avalanche' of negativity surrounding his now-doomed plans. 'He is looking for allies of note to publicly support him,' they said.
The Daily Mail has reached out to FIFA and the White House for comment, while on X the Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, Dylan Johnson, denied that a call is taking place.
He posted: ' There are no plans for [Marco Rubio] to speak with Infantino and there is no call this morning. [The New York Post] should check their sources or they could have just asked us.'
On Tuesday, a FIFA spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'The FIFA President has not made any call to the U.S President, or any members of his administration, in recent days. It is pure fiction.'