Several football associations from Europe have begun to worry that their teams' participation in the upcoming 2026 World Cup could result in significant financial losses. The main factors behind these concerns include rising expenses, the lack of agreed tax benefits, and the duration of the tournament.
FIFA has announced a record prize pool of £539 million; however, this amount may prove insufficient to cover all the teams' costs. Each qualifying team will receive $9 million, along with $1.5 million for preparatory activities. Nevertheless, daily allowances for delegations have been reduced from $850 to $600, which could lead to financial losses of around $500,000 for a month of participation in the tournament.
Particularly alarming are the tax conditions in the USA. Unlike Canada and Mexico, where tax benefits for teams are in place, such conditions have not yet been agreed upon in the USA. Tax rates range from 10.75% in New Jersey to 13.3% in California, creating financial inequality for teams participating in the tournament.
Additional costs are also associated with the extended duration of the tournament, complex travel logistics, rising ticket prices, and fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Federations can only hope for long-term benefits from entering the North American market and that the tournament will help promote football.
