European football associations have raised fresh concerns over rising costs linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Gianni Infantino expected to propose a solution later this month.
The 2026 edition, set to take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico, is widely seen as the most expensive World Cup yet—not only for fans facing high ticket prices, but also for participating teams dealing with increasing operational costs.
Although FIFA has raised total prize money to £546 million, several European finalists fear the financial return may be limited. High costs in the United States, reduced daily allowances and complex tax rules mean some teams may only break even if they reach the semi-finals.
According to reports, France is leading a group of European nations calling on UEFA to intervene. The issue was discussed during the recent UEFA Congress in Brussels.
Each qualified team is set to receive £6.7 million in participation fees and £1.1 million in preparation funding. However, associations argue this may not be sufficient to offset travel, logistics and operational expenses.
Switzerland is among the first to publicly raise concerns. The team is scheduled to play matches in California and Vancouver, and officials warn that an early exit from the tournament could result in financial losses.
Taxation remains a key issue, particularly in the United States, where FIFA does not have a comprehensive agreement covering state-level taxes. A similar situation affected clubs during last year’s Club World Cup.
Infantino is expected to address the issue at the upcoming FIFA Congress in Vancouver at the end of April.