FIFA has reportedly reduced more than $100 million from the operating budget for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, according to a report by The Athletic.
In its 2024 annual report, FIFA projected a total budget of $3.756 billion for the 2023–26 financial cycle, with $1.12 billion allocated to operational expenses for the tournament. This included $280 million for technical services, $159 million for event transport, $145 million for safety and security, and $79 million for guest management.
However, sources told The Athletic that staff at FIFA’s United States headquarters in Miami have been informed that budget cuts across areas such as safety, logistics, security and accessibility exceed $100 million.
“FIFA is constantly reviewing budget efficiencies to ensure costs are controlled, so that as much revenue as possible can be invested in the development of football around the world. This should not surprise anyone, as budget reviews are routinely applied prior to all our tournaments and events,” a FIFA spokesperson issued a statement.
The expanded 48-team tournament will be held across 16 venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July.
Meanwhile, the United States Congress has allocated $625 million in federal funding to support security costs at tournament venues. However, the funds have not yet been distributed due to a partial government shutdown affecting the United States Department of Homeland Security.
“FIFA will never compromise on the operational success, nor on key aspects such as safety and security, of its biggest tournament, and to suggest otherwise is false and misleading. FIFA is investing considerable resources to ensure an outstanding experience. FIFA will be deploying a total workforce of approximately 5,000 individuals to ensure smooth operations,” the statement added.
