Los Angeles could reject role in 2026 FIFA World Cup

With three years to go until another World Cup kicks off, FIFA is encountering a number of problems. According to The Athletic, one of the most important host venues in 2026 could walk away from the tournament.

The report suggests there has been an increase tension between FIFA and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), owner of the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, one of the key venues for the World Cup.

Several sources indicate that KSE would not be happy with how FIFA would try to distribute the income to be received during the World Cup between the cities and the stadiums. Stadium owners “expected the initial payments (the investment for the tournament) to be recouped through commercial assets”, such as sponsorship, ticket sales and food sales during matches. However, these conditions have not materialised in the way the Kroenke family had hoped.

There are not, as of yet, clear revenue figures for cities and stadiums, although FIFA projected last December that the four-year cycle leading up to the 2026 World Cup could generate an estimated $11 billion in revenue in total, with $3.1 billion expected to be driven through ticket sales and hospitality. As such, The Athletic notes that “the Kroenke’s would be convinced to walk away from the tournament unless FIFA renegotiates the deal”, seeking to take a bigger slice of the pie.

SoFi Stadium

SoFi Stadium is currently the most expensive stadium ever built in the United States. Estimated to cost more than $5 billion, the Los Angeles-based venue can hold over 80,000 spectators. It opened in 2020 and just two years later hosted the 2022 Super Bowl final between the Los Angeles Rams and Bengals. It is also expected to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

The Los Angeles venue is a cornerstone of FIFA’s 2026 FIFA World Cup organisational chart. Los Angeles was one of the founding cities of MLS, and hosted the 1994 US World Cup final and the 1999 Women’s World Cup final.

Who are the Kroenkes?

The Kroenke family is one of the most well-known sporting families in the world, alongside the Glazer, Ratcliffe, Buss and Pinault families. They own Premier League club Arsenal, the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Rapids and the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. The family’s current net worth is estimated to be $14.6 billion.