US to host FIFA World Cup 2026 amid growing security and funding concerns

US Preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026 Fall Behind Due to Funding Delays

Federal security grants for the FIFA World Cup 2026, worth $625 million, have been delayed, causing concerns about the readiness of US preparations. The funds were part of a Republican-backed spending bill passed in July 2025 and were expected to be allocated by January 30. However, officials have reported that they had not received the funding despite repeated inquiries.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has since announced that it has awarded the grants, stating that the money will “bolster security preparations.” The grant distribution process normally takes months, and efforts to buy technology and equipment can take even longer. According to Mike Sena, president of the National Fusion Center Association, the delayed funding has compounded an already complex process.

Intelligence briefings have warned of potential threats to the World Cup, including extremist attacks on transportation infrastructure and civil unrest related to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. A December 2025 intelligence report from New Jersey identified recent domestic attacks, disrupted terror plots, and a proliferation of extremist propaganda as potential risks. Another report, dated September 2025, described an online post encouraging attacks on railroad infrastructure during the World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup will be held in June and July this year across three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Law enforcement officials have been on high alert since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, and there are concerns about retaliatory threats. The event is expected to draw hundreds of millions of dollars in funding from various sources.

States and cities hosting the events are deep into planning, including how to safeguard against possible attacks. Officials involved in the preparations have expressed concerns about the tight timeline, with Sena stating that it will be “extremely tight.”

Source: Al Jazeera