The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has made changes to the financial plans for organizing the 2026 World Cup. According to preliminary data from the organization's 2024 annual report, the total budget for the period from 2023 to 2026 was projected at $3.756 billion. Of this amount, $1.12 billion was planned for operational expenses directly related to hosting the tournament, including maintenance, transport, security, and guest services.
However, according to reports from the influential "The Athletic" publication, FIFA leadership has unexpectedly decided to cut costs by more than $100 million. This directive from the headquarters in Switzerland was implemented to strengthen financial discipline during tournament preparations. Initial estimates allocated $280 million for technical services, $159 million for transport, $145 million for security, and $79 million for guest services. These figures are now expected to be optimized.
A FIFA spokesperson commenting on the situation explained this step as a desire to increase the organization's financial efficiency and invest more in football development worldwide. According to them, reviewing the budget before major tournaments is standard practice and remains under constant supervision. Furthermore, speculations in some sources that the cost reduction is linked to FIFA presidential elections were firmly denied by the organization, emphasizing that such information is baseless.
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