World Cup 2026

Spain’s World Cup plans under threat as U.S. courts target state assets

US courts have ruled Spain may be liable for unpaid energy arbitration awards, raising concerns over potential asset seizures during World Cup 2026 preparations in the United States.

Albert Gea

Laura Martin Sanjuan Roddy Cons

Update: Apr 13th, 2026 06:18 EDT

Since 2010, Spanish governments under former Prime Ministers José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Mariano Rajoy cut promised incentives for renewable energy investors after billions had already been committed to solar and wind projects.

That decision triggered more than 50 international arbitration cases against Spain, most under the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). So far, 27 final rulings have gone against Spain, many still unpaid.

The outstanding obligations are estimated at more than €47 million (about $55 million), though delayed payments, interest, and fees have pushed total exposure into the billions.

When a country does not comply with arbitration rulings, creditors can ask courts in other countries to seize state assets. That is where the United States enters the picture.

US courts say Spain waived sovereign immunity

US courts have issued key rulings, including in NextEra v. Spain, concluding that Spain waived sovereign immunity when it agreed to arbitration under the ECT.

As a result, US courts have said arbitration awards against Spain can be enforced on American soil, including through the seizure of Spanish state assets.

What can and cannot be seized

US enforcement applies only to state assets, not private companies.

That means Spanish corporations such as Santander, Inditex, Iberia, Telefónica, Repsol, or private businesses operating in the United States are not considered the Spanish state under US law.

However, courts draw a different line when it comes to public institutions. In filings reviewed by Diario AS, US subpoenas have identified “Spain” broadly to include state ministries, public bodies, and in some interpretations, organizations such as the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Spain national team.

That legal framing is central to the current dispute.

Spain’s World Cup plans under threat as U.S. courts target state assets — Sustainability and renewable energy have been fundamental to the economy in recent years.

Why Spain’s national team is now part of the discussion

“Spain is currently a debtor nation. It must pay its debts,” said economic analyst Diego Sánchez de la Cruz, who has followed the case closely.

He argues the issue is not sporting, but legal.

US courts have already ruled that Spain’s participation in international arbitration removes certain immunity protections, allowing enforcement actions against assets located in the United States.

A key precedent cited is NextEra v. Spain, upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

How the national team could be affected at World Cup 2026

The concern raised by legal filings is that payments linked to Spain’s national team activities in the United States could be treated as state assets.

That includes revenues from friendly matches, World Cup-related reimbursements, hospitality contracts, logistics arrangements, and commercial agreements signed during US-based operations.

In previous enforcement actions, courts have already targeted funds linked to Spanish air navigation operator ENAIRE in Belgium, where hundreds of millions of euros were frozen via Eurocontrol mechanisms.

“It is simple. Spain must pay its debts”

According to Sánchez de la Cruz, enforcement is escalating internationally.

He notes that Spanish arbitration-related rulings have been recognized or enforced in jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and the United States.

In one resolved case, Spain paid about €36 million (just over $42 million) to Japan’s JGC Corporation following an ICSID arbitration linked to renewable energy cuts between 2010 and 2014. The final amount exceeded the original award due to interest and legal costs.

Despite that payment, many other awards remain unsettled.

“Spain is a debtor nation right now. It has to pay what it owes,” he said.

FIFA’s role and World Cup operations in the US

The issue also touches the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States.

FIFA’s US subsidiary, FWC2026 US Inc., registered in Florida, along with hotels, logistics firms, and commercial partners, have reportedly been notified as part of discovery processes in US courts.

Companies involved in team operations, including hospitality providers and logistics contractors, could be required to disclose contracts, payments, and financial records tied to the Spanish delegation.

Among those named in subpoenas are major hotel and logistics companies, including Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Vision Hospitality Group, Rock-It Cargo USA LLC, and FWC2026 US Inc.

The concern is not disruption on the field, but potential interference with payments processed inside US jurisdiction.

What this means for Spain

Through these legal requests, creditors are effectively mapping Spain’s financial footprint connected to soccer operations in the United States.

That includes RFEF bank accounts, FIFA-related payments, World Cup logistics contracts, hospitality agreements, and sponsorship flows.

In practical terms, legal experts say possible measures could include the freezing of payments tied to matches, blocking of reimbursements linked to the World Cup, or the seizure of contracts signed in the United States.

No personal risk is involved for players or staff, but financial operations linked to Spain’s soccer institutions could face legal disruption.

The broader risk for Spain

If Spain continues to resist paying arbitration awards, the dispute is no longer just technical or diplomatic.

It has evolved into a cross-border enforcement battle that could intersect with one of the country’s biggest international sporting events, the 2026 World Cup in the United States.