Following the Wasted Money at World Cup 2026 | PTFO

The 2026 World Cup is underway, and FIFA stands to profit nearly $9 billion. How did U.S. taxpayers get stuck with the tab? The Athletic’s Adam Crafton crunches the numbers on wasted public money, as Pablo Torre dissects comically absurd demands upon host cities — from "clean" stadiums and super-V.I.P. treatment… to a pop-up jail.

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Further reading:

• "The U.S. signed up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and its 11 host cities are paying for it"
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/article/7314190/

• "U.S. states waived taxes to host World Cup" https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7321482/2026/06/10/world-cup-tax-waived-games/

• "The $25.8m Kansas City ‘World Cup jail’" https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7309921/2026/06/09/world-cup-argentina-kansas-city-jail/

• Rahm Emanuel Q&A: ‘The numbers don’t work’" https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7318897/2026/06/08/world-cup-chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-2026/