Who Will Pay the $625M World Cup Security Tab?

Gianni Infantino may be all smiles with Donald Trump, but trouble looms in the form of a $625 million security bill for the 2026 World Cup. With the U.S. hosting the majority of matches, local host cities are now lobbying Washington for federal funding to cover security and emergency services.

Cities like Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, Kansas City, and Philadelphia have hired Hogan Lovells to lobby Congress, according to Inside World Football. Meanwhile, other host cities, including New York/New Jersey and Los Angeles, have spent tens of thousands on similar lobbying efforts.

Bipartisan lawmakers argue the World Cup is “the largest sporting event in history” and a vital national security concern given global risks. Still, FIFA has yet to provide concrete data supporting its $40 billion economic forecast.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer insists that “everyone’s got to be part of the team,” but with growing uncertainty over who will foot the bill, it’s unclear whether that team will include the federal government—or billionaires like Trump and Musk.

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