Leaked internal documents from FIFA's finance committee reveal that the total cost of the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has ballooned to an estimated £50bn—more than double initial projections. The documents, obtained by this newsroom, show that UK infrastructure giants including Balfour Beatty, Laing O'Rourke, and Mace have submitted bids for stadium construction and high-speed transit links worth a combined £18bn. Sources close to the bid process confirm that the contracts are being fast-tracked with minimal oversight.
This is a feeding frenzy," said a former FIFA auditor who spoke on condition of anonymity. The scale of the spending is staggering, and the due diligence is being bypassed."
The UK firms have not denied the allegations, but a Balfour Beatty spokesperson stated the company "complies with all relevant regulations." Critics argue that the cost overruns will be passed on to taxpayers, while the host cities scramble to meet FIFA's demands.
The UK government has yet to comment on its role in facilitating these bids.
