FIFA has reduced more than $100 million from its operating budget for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, according to The Athletic.
The organisation’s 2024 annual report projected $1.12 billion for operational expenses out of a total $3.756 billion budget for the 2023–26 cycle. This included allocations for technical services ($280M), event transport ($159M), safety and security ($145M), and guest management ($79M).
Sources told The Athletic that FIFA staff at its Miami headquarters are feeling strain, as cuts to areas such as safety, logistics, security, and accessibility “comfortably exceeded” $100 million.
A FIFA spokesperson responded:
“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… FIFA will never compromise on the operational success, nor on key aspects such as safety and security, of its biggest tournament.”
The 48-team tournament will take place at 16 venues across the US, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The US Congress has allocated $625 million to assist with venue security, but distribution has been delayed due to a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security. FIFA confirmed it will deploy a workforce of around 5,000 to ensure smooth operations and maintain safety, security, and accessibility standards.
Iran Withdraws from World Cup Amid Middle East Conflict
FIFA has also been forced to navigate a major geopolitical challenge, as Iran officially confirmed this week that it will withdraw from the tournament amid the ongoing war between the US and Israel. Iranian sports minister Ahmad Donyamal told television audiences:
“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate… two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed. Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.”
Iran had been drawn in Group G, set to face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in the US. The withdrawal has plunged the tournament into crisis, with tensions in the Middle East escalating amid daily missile attacks.
Despite concerns, FIFA chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi insisted on Monday that the tournament will go ahead:
“If I had a crystal ball, I could tell you now what is going to happen, but obviously the situation is developing… We take it day by day, and at some stage, we will have a resolution. And the World Cup will go on… The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone who qualified can participate.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino added that US President Donald Trump had assured FIFA that Iran would be “welcome” to compete, though this assurance came before Iran officially withdrew.
The 2026 World Cup, expected to generate around £9 billion for FIFA, is now facing one of its most complex operational and diplomatic challenges in recent history, combining budget pressures with unprecedented security and participation concerns.
