FIFA Owes US Cities Big

$11 million

That’s how much U.S. World Cup host cities say FIFA verbally promised them—$1 million each across the 11 cities—but has yet to pay out. The sum represents a fraction of the more than $15 billion FIFA reported in revenue from this year’s tournament alone. That’s up from about $7.6 billion from the last World Cup cycle and the 2022 tournament. 

The cities collectively spent hundreds of millions in public funds, while FIFA kept the bulk of tournament revenue. Kansas City alone received $86.8 million in public funding to host six matches, including a quarterfinal.