July 3 – The 11 US host city committees for the FIFA men’s World Cup moved one step closer to securing their requested $625million in federal security funding after the US Senate passed an amended version of President Donald Trump’s domestic policy bill on Tuesday.
The legislation now advances to the House of Representatives before potentially reaching Trump’s desk for signature.
The Senate-approved bill includes an additional $500m for “state and local capabilities to detect, identify, track or monitor threats from unmanned aircraft systems,” addressing growing drone security concerns at World Cup stadiums and fan festivals. The legislation also allocates $1billion for security, planning and other costs related to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Host cities are contractually obligated by FIFA to cover significant security costs for the tournament, both at stadiums and surrounding areas. Many have already tapped city and state taxpayers, private support and donations while formally requesting the $625m to share the security burden. The cities anticipate billions in economic impact from millions of tournament visitors.
The House aims to deliver the legislation to Trump’s desk by July 4, though this timeline depends on adequate Republican support.
If passed, the funding would mark a considerable victory for US Soccer, which has supported host city lobbying efforts, and for FIFA. President Gianni Infantino has cultivated an extremely close relationship with Trump, attending his pre-inauguration rally, inauguration ceremony, and several White House events, including the establishment of the FIFA World Cup White House Task Force chaired by the US President.
The US will co-host with Canada and Mexico, but American cities will host 75 percent of the 48-team tournament, including all games from the quarter-finals onwards.
Despite fierce partisan division over the Republican-led bill, which includes billions in cuts to Medicaid and green energy programs, the host cities’ funding request has received bipartisan support. Democrat Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Republican Rep. Darin LaHood jointly requested the funding, describing the tournament as “the largest sporting event in history” requiring “a reasonable and necessary investment in our national security.”
A subsequent letter signed by 48 Congress members emphasised the tournament’s “unprecedented” security risks due to its “scale and geographic scope,” noting multi-billion viewing figures make it a “uniquely attractive target for malicious actors.”
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1751564292labto1751564292ofdlr1751564292owedi1751564292sni@o1751564292fni1751564292