The cities selected as host venues in the United States for the World Cup are demanding from FIFA millions of dollars that were promised to them and have not been delivered, generating controversy in the football sphere.
Claim by the host cities
The cities chosen as host venues in the United States for the World Cup are claiming from FIFA millions of dollars that were promised to them and have not been delivered yet. According to The Athletic, officials from the football governing body had assured a 'legacy contribution' of one million dollars for social projects and the construction of mini-pitches, but the money has still not arrived, leading several venues to request information about the status of the payments.
Discontent and financial disputes
FIFA's non-compliance comes at a difficult time for the organizing committees, which are closing operations after the tournament with uncertainty about the distribution of funds. The cities bore a significant part of the direct and indirect costs, while FIFA enjoyed substantial revenues during the 2023-2026 financial cycle. This situation has caused discontent among local entities, criticizing the stance of Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA.
Controversy surrounding profit distribution
The profit distribution once again places FIFA in the midst of controversy, as despite the significant revenues, host cities have had to face substantial expenses in security, transportation, and logistics. While FIFA centralized the profits, local administrations had to cover operational expenses, in addition to granting significant tax exemptions.
Vocal Opponents of Infantino
Several voices within FIFA have expressed disagreement with Gianni Infantino and his management. The decision to withdraw a project open to private investors has sparked controversy, casting doubt on the automatic re-election of the president. Prominent figures like Arsene Wenger and Prince Ali bin Al Hussein have criticized Infantino's leadership, highlighting the lack of transparency in fund management.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ciudades sede de la Copa Mundial 2026 en EE. UU. exigen a la FIFA recursos prometidos