FIFA president Gianni Infantino took to Instagram last week to extend a "heartfelt thank you" to the eleven United States cities selected to host the 2026 World Cup, praising their role in bringing the tournament to life.
The message, however, arrived without any acknowledgment of the $1 million legacy‑project promises made to each host city, promises that have yet to materialise more than a year after the tournament concluded.
Financial analysts estimate that the 2026 World Cup will generate roughly $15 billion in revenue for FIFA, a figure that stands in stark contrast to the modest sums still owed to the municipalities that bore the bulk of infrastructure costs.
Escalating Political Pressure
Isha Johansen, former president of the Sierra Leone Football Association, publicly called for Infantino’s resignation, arguing that the unkept pledges betray a broader ethical lapse.
Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, echoed the sentiment, stating that while cooperation with FIFA will continue, transparency and good governance must be restored before any further financial commitments are considered.
The criticism is not confined to Africa. UEFA, Concacaf and several Asian federations have voiced opposition to Infantino’s leadership ahead of the 2026 presidential election, signalling a widening rift within world football’s governing bodies.
Infantino’s Instagram post, which celebrated the venues as the tournament’s backbone, was perceived by many host‑city officials as tone‑deaf, further inflaming public perception of the federation’s priorities.
At the heart of the dispute lies a legal grey area: the $1 million pledges were presented as verbal assurances rather than contractual obligations, leaving the cities with limited avenues for recourse.