The 2026 World Cup is already causing financial strain for American fans, from travel and accommodation to the soaring cost of tickets.
Supporters have spent months planning for expensive flights, long journeys between host cities and ticket prices that have made this tournament feel out of reach for many ordinary fans.
But the burden is not only being felt by those trying to attend games. US cities and states are also facing major costs around security, logistics and local operations, and now taxpayers in three states are set to miss out on an eye-watering amount of revenue because of tax waivers linked to World Cup ticket sales.
World Cup tax loophole set to cost US taxpayers
The issue fits into a bigger funding split between the three host countries. Mexico and Canada are providing World Cup funding in a more direct way, unlike many US host cities leaning on local fundraising, sponsorships and reimbursement programs.
According to analysis by The Athletic, Missouri, Georgia and Florida waiving taxes on World Cup ticket sales will mean at least $57.8m in lost revenue for American taxpayers.
Those states are all hosting matches, with Kansas City, Atlanta and Miami among the US venues involved in the tournament. The tax breaks were part of the commitments made to FIFA as cities and states pushed to secure hosting rights.
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy has also criticized the arrangement. It estimated that Missouri could lose more than $11m in state and local revenue from games in Kansas City alone.
ITEP also said Florida could lose around $7.4m on matches in Miami, while Georgia expects to miss out on up to $25m in state and local sales taxes from games in Atlanta.
World Cup tickets are already being sold at huge prices, but the sales tax revenue that would usually support public services is being waived for one of the richest sporting bodies on the planet.
FIFA will argue that host cities benefit from tourism, hotels, restaurants and global exposure. But those benefits are harder to measure than the tax revenue being given up before a ball has even been kicked.
This could end up being the most lucrative World Cup FIFA has ever staged. For the American taxpayer in Missouri, Georgia and Florida, it may also prove to be one of the costliest.
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