Why haven't World Cup host cities received critical funding?

"In July, Congress passed legislation that awarded $625 million in funding to the 11 U.S. host cities to pay for items such as security and FIFA Fan Fests that have been part of the tournament since 2006. With fewer than 100 days until the tournament starts, the money hasn't arrived, and the host cities are starting to worry."

"The U.S. government is, at present, partially shut down, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) currently unfunded due to demands by Democratic lawmakers that new limits be placed on federal immigration operations after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January. Among the governmental entities affected is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which operates under DHS. FEMA is responsible for disbursing the funds but has yet to do so."

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with strong infrastructure and fan interest expected to generate significant revenue. However, U.S. host cities now face critical challenges. Congress approved $625 million in funding for 11 American host cities to cover security, FIFA Fan Fests, and related expenses. With fewer than 100 days before the tournament begins, these funds remain undisbursed. A partial federal government shutdown has halted funding disbursements, as the Department of Homeland Security remains unfunded due to congressional disputes over immigration policy. FEMA, which operates under DHS and is responsible for distributing the grants, cannot process payments because relevant federal workers are not operating during the shutdown. This funding delay has become a subject of political contention among lawmakers.

Read at ESPN.com