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Several U.S. cities that hosted 2026 World Cup matches are claiming millions of dollars that they say FIFA promised them, The Athletic reported on Tuesday.
Four executives from World Cup host cities, who spoke to the media outlet on condition of anonymity, claimed that officials from the soccer governing body told them each would receive $1 million in "legacy" funding to build soccer-related infrastructure and support "social projects."
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The Athletic reported that officials from those cities requested the payments after Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, announced such contributions for the host cities of the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.
"According to four executives from host city organizing committees in the U.S., who asked to remain anonymous to protect their relationships, FIFA leadership repeatedly assured cities they would receive the same $1 million contribution for legacy projects, even though the organization never made a public announcement about it," wrote The Athletic.
"The four executives said this promise was made verbally by members of FIFA's senior management and reiterated to the cities in various meetings, but the money has not been disbursed, so several cities are now asking FIFA staff for updates on those payments."
Contacted by AFP, FIFA declined to comment on the matter.
The U.S. cities of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Boston, and New York/New Jersey were among the host venues for the World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The tournament, which took place over 39 days and was expanded to 48 teams for the first time, helped push FIFA's revenue to a record $15 billion during the 2023-2026 financial cycle, according to reports.
The report represents another setback for Infantino, who is facing criticism from UEFA and other confederations, as well as some sectors within FIFA itself, over his now-abandoned proposal to open the World Cup to private investment.
[Publicidad]