{
  "id": 149899,
  "title": "US World Cup cities seek millions of dollars promised by Fifa",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/us-world-cup-cities-seek-millions-of-dollars-promised-by-fifa",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-04T21:33:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/08/05/us-world-cup-cities-seek-millions-of-dollars-promised-by-fifa"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2023-26 revenue cycle of FIFA, the world governing body of football, reportedly reached a record US$15 billion, as announced by the organization. This surge in earnings can be attributed to the 39-day World Cup tournament, which was expanded to include 48 teams for the first time. The expansion took place across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.\n\nIn the aftermath of the tournament, multiple US cities that hosted matches are seeking millions of dollars they believe FIFA promised them. According to four anonymous executives from World Cup cities, FIFA management assured them that each city would receive US$1 million in legacy funds to support football-related infrastructure and social projects. These executives spoke to The Athletic, a news outlet, about their experiences and the unfulfilled promises.\n\nThe executives claimed that FIFA management made this verbal promise repeatedly to the cities during meetings, despite there being no public statement made by the organization. They added that this promise was made to all the host cities, including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Boston, and New York/New Jersey.\n\nHowever, it appears that FIFA has not paid these promised legacy funds. Consequently, several cities are now reaching out to FIFA staff for updates on the payments. This issue has become another setback for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is currently facing criticism from the European confederation UEFA and other governing bodies, as well as some within FIFA, over his previously proposed plan to open the World Cup to private investment.",
  "summary": "The cities were told they would each receive US$1 million in legacy funding for football infrastructure and community projects.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Fifa chief Grafstrom blasts Infantino's failed World Cup plan in staff email",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/fifa-chief-grafstrom-blasts-infantinos-failed-world-cup-plan-in-staff",
        "published": "2026-08-04T10:25:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Wenger says scrapping Infantino's World Cup plan was 'absolutely necessary'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/wenger-says-scrapping-infantinos-world-cup-plan-was-absolutely",
        "published": "2026-08-04T12:41:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "FIFA denies Infantino sought Trump backing after failed World Cup selloff",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/fifa-denies-infantino-sought-trump-backing-after-failed-world-cup",
        "published": "2026-08-04T14:11:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Infantino calls emergency FIFA meeting as pressure grows",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/infantino-calls-emergency-fifa-meeting-as-pressure-grows",
        "published": "2026-08-04T21:32:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Battle lines drawn within FIFA as key figures break ranks with Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/battle-lines-drawn-within-fifa-as-key-figures-break-ranks-with",
        "published": "2026-08-05T01:52:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Constant Omari, former FIFA council member: 'Infantino must have the courage to resign or seek a vote of confidence'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/constant-omari-former-fifa-council-member-infantino-must-have-the",
        "published": "2026-08-05T18:52:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Canada PM Carney says has no confidence in Fifa’s Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/canada-pm-carney-says-has-no-confidence-in-fifas-infantino",
        "published": "2026-08-05T21:10:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "FIFA backs Infantino but apologises over World Cup investment plan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/fifa-backs-infantino-but-apologises-over-world-cup-investment-plan",
        "published": "2026-08-06T00:01:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "FIFA governance debate set to outlive Morocco truce despite backing for Infantino",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/fifa-governance-debate-set-to-outlive-morocco-truce-despite-backing",
        "published": "2026-08-06T10:43:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}