Bizarre tax laws in US could drain 30+ nations’ World Cup earnings as FIFA fails to secure exemption
The 2026 FIFA World Cup faces an unexpected financial divide as US tax laws and uneven international treaties mean teams will be taxed differently on tournament earnings. While FIFA holds tax-exempt status, many federations do not, leaving non-European nations particularly exposed. With varying state taxes and limited exemptions, the expanded 48-team format risks creating major economic disparities between participants.
