A number of European football federations fear they will lose money sending their national teams to the World Cup this summer, with an unusual hike in costs and inconsistencies around tax exemptions among the problems Fifa is being urged to rectify. Around 10 FAs are understood to have shared misgivings between themselves, most recently at Uefa’s annual congress in Brussels a fortnight ago. Teams that qualify receive $9m (€7.72m) each from Fifa and are handed $1.5m (€1.27m) in preparation costs. One FA estimated that this would mean receiving around $500,000 (€426,000) less if their team remained at the World Cup, which has been expanded in length and number, for a month. Another mitigation offered for this summer’s issues is the potential longer-term benefit of lengthy exposure to the vast North American market.

Source: Irish Examiner February 26, 2026 10:45 UTC