The 11 cities in the U.S. that will stage 2026 FIFA World Cup matches are “facing a battle to obtain a requested” $625M in federal funding towards the security costs of the tournament, according to Adam Crafton of THE ATHLETIC. The World Cup host committees in Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, K.C. and Philadelphia have all enlisted Hogan Lovells U.S. LLP “as lobbyists.” The filings from those five committees say that the cities “spent around $10,000″ each for Hogan Lovells’ services in Q4 of 2024, except for Boston, which “committed $20,000.” The documents say that the lobbying “will target” the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the White House. Crafton noted the N.Y./New Jersey committee will be enlisting Hogan Lovells U.S. LLP, though, it also “paid around $60,000” to lobbyists Foley and Lardner LLP between 2023 and 2025, with the reported intent being “to seek federal funding opportunities and awareness.” The L.A. committee has “spent $100,000” on Foley and Lardner to seek “federal funding opportunities for security and transportation.” An L.A. committee spokesperson said, however, that the figure is “actually $62,591.” Crafton noted a letter was sent by U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey) and Darin LaHood (R-Illinois) last year on November 26 to the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees “requesting consideration in the end-of-year funding packages” to “assist security operations during the World Cup.” The letter said that the request “has ‘broad support’ from the 11 U.S. Host Committees, law enforcement agencies, local governments and security professionals.” It also said that the U.S. federal government has “precedence for allocating dollars in security funding for major events” (THE ATHLETIC, 3/21).
CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM: SBJ Publisher & Executive Editor Abe Madkour writes while there is “unbridled enthusiasm” for hosting the World Cup in the U.S., there is “also palpable angst from sources I speak with who wonder if our country and cities recognize and are properly preparing for the scale, logistics and influx of visitors for this giant event.” There are just over 400 days until the World Cup begins, and there is “tremendous pressure on the host committees, which are responsible for delivering the games and covering many of the operational costs -- including the fan experience, transportation, public safety, team accommodations and other critical elements.” To be clear, there are “no concerns about the ability to deliver the fan experience inside the venues -- the building operators do that all the time.” The sky “is not falling and these are not new concerns before a big event.” Many “just want a greater sense of urgency” (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/24 issue).
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BE OUR GUESTS: Crafton in a separate piece noted the U.S.-Mexico bid for the 2031 Women’s World Cup is “exploring staging matches in Costa Rica and Jamaica.” He wrote it is unclear at this stage whether it would be Costa Rica, or Jamaica, or both to hold matches, but the number of games is “likely to be limited” and “may even just be fixtures involving the host nation in question.” The countries, which both have not held fixtures at a senior major women’s tournament before, would need to “demonstrate they have the appropriate stadium infrastructure if they are to be included in the bid” (THE ATHLETIC, 3/21).
