World Cup Host Cities Still In The Dark On $625m In Promised Security Funding

With just over 100 days until kickoff, the 11 U.S. World Cup host cities remain in limbo over when they will receive their share of $625 million in federal security funding — an uncertainty that local officials warn could upend planning for one of the largest sporting events in American history.

On a recent call with the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force, led by Andrew Giuliani, host city officials pressed him for answers about the long-promised grants. According to three people familiar with the conversation, granted anonymity to discuss the call candidly, they received little clarity beyond the explanation that there is just an “administrative delay.”

The uncertainty comes amid the ongoing partial government shutdown — and a broader slowdown in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding — which are compounding security challenges ahead of the tournament.

“With now only 106 days until the competition begins, we wanted to express to you the importance of finalizing and resolving any administrative concerns regarding the distribution of FIFA World Cup security grants,” the World Cup Host Committees wrote in the letter to the White House task force on Wednesday that was reviewed by POLITICO. Underscoring the urgency, they called the funds “critical to delivering a safe, secure, and successful World Cup this summer.”

The White House FIFA World Cup Task Force did not immediately comment.

Congress, with President Donald Trump’s backing, included $625 million in World Cup security funding in last year’s sweeping GOP megabill. Host committees said they submitted their applications by a December deadline, and that the official Notice of Funding Opportunity listed “no later than” Jan. 30 as the anticipated award date.

That date has passed, and the cities have yet to receive notification of the formal awards of the tens of millions of dollars they’re counting on to help put on the tournament.

“The $625 million in security funding is essential to executing safety and security measures at the level required for a global event of this scale,” the letter states. The committees warned they need the money soon to comply with procurement requirements and purchase equipment in time for the matches.

“We need to start making commitments now on signing contracts, sending out [requests for proposals], putting out purchase orders and things of all that nature,” said one of the host committee executives granted anonymity to speak frankly. “So that's really where the pinch point is, more than anything else right now. And it's hard to do those things without some confirmation.”

The issue burst into public view Tuesday during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, where local officials described a growing logjam in federal grant funding.

“Without receiving this money, it could be catastrophic for our planning and coordination,” Ray Martinez, the chief operating officer for the Miami Host Committee, told the panel.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently halted the disbursement of non-emergency FEMA grants during the partial government shutdown, saying the agency must prioritize disaster response. The move affects counterterrorism and security grants distributed through FEMA — the same pipeline used for World Cup security funding.Noem said in a statement Thursday morning that FEMA had been in the “final stages” of reviewing applications from World Cup host cities when the shutdown hit, putting “significant portions” of FEMA staff on administrative leave.

“The longer DHS goes without funding, the less prepared our nation will be for threats at the FIFA World Cup and America 250,” Noem posted.