FIFA promised a $1 million gift to Philly to spur ‘legacy’ initiatives. The city is still waiting.
Soccer's world governing body announced in Philadelphia last year a plan to distribute a combined $11 million to host cities after last summer's Club World Cup. It hasn't happened in 10 cities.
Last April, while promoting the FIFA Club World Cup in Philadelphia, FIFA president Gianni Infantino revealed plans to distribute $11 million in combined payouts to the tournament’s 11 host cities.
Philadelphia hosted eight matches at Lincoln Financial Field and was among cities set to receive $1 million for “legacy initiatives” following the end of the tournament. Additionally, soccer’s world governing body would establish an American chapter of its charitable arm, the FIFA Foundation, to assist in the distribution and lasting oversight of the payouts.
To date, The Inquirer has learned that only an undisclosed fraction of the funding for those initiatives has been dispersed. According to a source close to the proceedings, a portion of the gift to Miami, which hosted eight matches, went to a youth initiative in the city, but the person did not name the amount or the cause.
Coincidentally, one of the two FIFA headquarters in the United States to oversee the World Cup is located in Miami.
That leaves 10 cities, including Philadelphia, still waiting for a payout that was said to leave “a lasting legacy.”
However, it’s uncertain when those efforts will begin with the promised funding, which is set to arrive by way of FIFA’s Global Citizen Education Fund. That fund, which has a goal of raising $100 million by July 19, the final of the FIFA World Cup in North America, was designed to assist with grassroots education programs that use soccer as a conduit.
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“FIFA is fully committed to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 host city legacy program and the commitment to provide $1 million to each host city in support of community-focused initiatives linked to the tournament,” a FIFA spokesperson told The Inquirer. “The development and delivery of the projects are currently at varying stages, and further details regarding the selected initiatives in each host city will be announced in due course.”
However, there is confusion about not only when, but also who will receive the funding. After reaching out to the host city delegation in New York/New Jersey, where MetLife Stadium hosted nine matches, including the Club World Cup final last July, The Inquirer was referred back to FIFA for comment, as the delegation was unsure of a specific timeline.
It’s unsurprising that current host city delegations wouldn’t have an immediate answer, as they did not have a direct relationship with FIFA during the Club World Cup. Multiple host city executives were quick to remind that they were tasked only with the planning of the larger FIFA World Cup.
For legacy initiatives planned here, Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the host city committee tasked with the planning and execution of the World Cup, won’t receive the gift directly, The Inquirer has learned. Instead, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 has entrusted the U.S. Soccer Foundation to oversee all legacy initiatives on its behalf.
Requests for comment from U.S. Soccer Foundation regarding communication with FIFA and/or Philadelphia Soccer 2026 officials went unreturned at the time of this report.
In October, the U.S. Soccer Foundation was in Philly to celebrate the installation of two mini pitches at Swenson Arts and Technology High School in the Northeast and the Building 21 school in West Oak Lane.
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They were said at the time to be the first of 26 planned projects as part of Philadelphia Soccer 2026’s “26 for 26” legacy initiative, as part of a $2 million investment in targeting youth soccer initiatives and growing the game in the city.
However, it’s unclear if FIFA’s gift of $1 million is part of that funding structure.
Whether there’s just too much going on with the World Cup on the horizon or there’s a method to all of this, FIFA is behind schedule on its promise of funding. Unless, when breaking the news to the world inside Lincoln Financial Field last April, Infantino misspoke regarding the timeline.
Nevertheless, FIFA contends that legacy payouts are coming to all 11 host cities — even if it’s taking longer than originally promised.
“As with all FIFA and FIFA Foundation legacy and investment programs, a thorough due diligence and assessment process is being undertaken in close collaboration with the respective host cities and local stakeholders,” a FIFA spokesperson said. “[This is] to ensure that the selected projects can deliver meaningful, sustainable and long-term impact for local communities.”
Nine nations will compete in five group stage matches this summer, plus two more in a knockout game on July 4. Here’s what you need to know about those countries — and what those fans need to know about Philly. Click here for more.
