March 24 – While Gianni Infantino is enjoying his honeymoon bounce with Donald Trump, he’ll soon realise that everything with Trump is transactional and that includes the requested $625 million in federal funding for security costs by host cities.
With the US hosting 75% of the tournament, host cities are involved in the business of lobbying to persuade the current administration to part with a significant amount of federal cash.
Most recently, Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, Kansas City and Philadelphia have all enlisted Hogan Lovells US LLP as lobbyists. Filings registered at the United States Senate Lobbying Disclosure website indicate that the five city committees are seeking “appropriations to support increased security and emergency services associated with World Cup 2026.”
As with all things to do with the law in the US lawyers don’t come cheap and the cities have spent close to $10,000 (£7,700) each for Hogan Lovells’ services in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Recently joining the five is the New York/New Jersey committee who’d previously worked with the lobbyists, Foley and Lardner. In Los Angeles the committee has spent $100,000 on the same lobbying firm to seek “federal funding opportunities for security and transportation”.
There is bi-partisan support with Democrat congressman Josh Gottheimer and Republican counterpart Darin LaHood sending a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting “broad support” from the 11 host cities.
The letter described the 2026 tournament as “the largest sporting event in history” and therefore “a reasonable and necessary investment in our national security, particularly in light of the evolving global threat landscape and the growing risks associated with large public gatherings.”
During Infantino’s latest visit to the White House, Infantino claimed that the Club World Cup and World Cup would generate $40 billion in the US alone, however, FIFA has yet to publish materials that would show how and where this economic bonanza will happen.
On FIFA’s responsibility, Rep. Gottheimer says: “It’s a team sport. So, everyone’s got to participate, everyone’s got to be part of the team and there’s all different ways that they are all kicking in. Everyone has a responsibility to do so. Based on my discussions, they understand the responsibility. As we go forward, those are the kinds of conversations we should be having with them.”
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1742907098labto1742907098ofdlr1742907098owedi1742907098sni@o1742907098fni1742907098