In preparation for the 2026 World Cup, host cities in the United States entered into contracts with FIFA that impose significant financial burdens on them. These agreements require the cities to cover most organizing costs, which include security measures, stadium retrofitting, and oversized fan festivals. Since the tournament is projected to generate approximately $11 billion in profits for FIFA, the host cities will only receive a minimal portion of the game-day revenues, primarily from concessions. Local officials expected financial returns similar to previous events, but the terms of the current contracts leave them concerned. In Houston, although much of the funding is anticipated to come from federal sources, uncertainties remain about who is liable for costs middle if the local organizing committee cannot meet its financial obligations. Taxpayers are left at risk because these hosting agreements do not clarify the financial responsibilities should the organizing committee fall short. Additionally, evidence regarding the economic benefits of hosting large sporting events is mixed, with state officials consistently reporting that they cannot determine whether any significant positive or negative impacts arise from such investments, including numerous events funded previously by the Texas Major Events Reimbursement Program. This situation reveals a growing pattern where host cities essentially subsidize a profitable event for FIFA while receiving little in return, raising concerns of accountability and financial transparency.