European FAs raise concerns over rising costs ahead of FIFA World Cup in North America

Football associations in Europe have increasingly expressed concern that costs to take part in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico would be prohibitive. And with the tournament now expanded to 48 teams, and record prize money on offer, many felt there would be a serious financial incentive for those competing in the competition. But several European federations are issuing private warnings that escalating operational costs, complicated tax and day rate structures could materially dampen their overall returns, according to The Guardian.

Their discomfort arises from the rare logistical challenges of putting on a tournament across three vast nations. Distances traveled between venues are much greater than in previous editions, especially the compact schedule and geography of Qatar, last time out. Officials dread that once performance bonuses, staffing expenses, and infrastructure spending is factored in, some teams could turn a smaller profit than at the last World Cup, or potentially show losses in extreme cases.

Tax uncertainty and reduced allowances heighten financial strain

European associations have also raised concerns that increased costs could cancel out the gains from FIFA’s record $727 million prize fund for the 2026 finals, including a record $50 million for the winners. One major complaint is a decrease in daily allowances for team delegations that has reportedly gone from $850 per person at the 2022 tournament to $600 in 2026. Over an extended stay, that difference could run to hundreds of thousands of dollars per federation.


Tax treatment in the United States was also a sticking point. Unlike Canada and Mexico, which have said they will give tax exemptions to countries taking part, the U.S. system includes both federal and state taxes and some officials call it a postcode lottery. Federations say they have been left with no option but to seek independent financial advice to better understand their potential liabilities, adding another layer of uncertainty over tournament planning.

Long-term impact on development funding and national programmes

Apart from the cost of an immediate tournament, associations are worried about wider ramifications for football back home. The revenues accrued from World Cup participation are usually used to reinvest in youth academies, grassroots programmes and national training infrastructure. A fall in net earnings could exert budgetary pressure on these programmes.

Officials from several European federations are reported to have discussed the issue in recent meetings, emphasizing the need for greater clarity and support from football’s global governing body. Although the expanded tournament format is intended to drive a new level of participation and commercial growth, some European administrators feel that whatever financial protections are made available to nations entering the competition have failed to keep pace with its growing size and complexity.


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