California Finds Money for World Cup, but 49ers Remain Tens of Millions Short

Key state funding is poised to help the 49ers shrink their large World Cup bill, though a massive gap would remain.

Local officials have estimated the 2026 World Cup will cost the city of Santa Clara $50 million, and FIFA is only paying $13 million to use the publicly owned stadium. A city law states no taxpayer funding can be used for stadium events. The 49ers said in February they will cover the deficit if the organizer, the team-founded Bay Area Host Committee, doesn’t raise enough money—a plan that was approved by the majority 49ers-funded city council.

Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a budget that did not include any funding for the World Cup, but a spokesperson for the governor told Front Office Sports the state would use “existing resources” to help. Late Tuesday night, Newsom and legislators reached a deal for a new budget that would give $10 million to World Cup operations in Southern California and the Bay Area. The deal is scheduled for a final vote within the next week ahead of a July 1 deadline for the start of the new fiscal year.

The San-Francisco Chronicle first reported the news.

The World Cup provisions are surprising because California is facing a $12 billion budget deficit. Of course, $10 million is a small portion of $12 billion, but for the cash-strapped state, it’s a big move.

On top of the $10 million in the budget, a Newsom spokesperson told the FOS that hosts can access $7 million that was set aside in the 2022 Budget Bill to help with World Cup security, bringing the total state funds to $17 million.

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is hosting eight matches, including the U.S. national team’s first game and a quarterfinal fixture. Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara will have six. (FIFA owns naming rights for the stadiums during the tournament, labeling the venues as “Los Angeles Stadium” and “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.”)

The two cities could split the money 50–50, which would give $8.5 million to each host. But Southern California and its privately funded host committee will host more matches than the Bay Area, perhaps justifying an uneven split. Regardless, the state funds won’t make up the full $37 million the 49ers will be on the hook for, but it could make a dent.

Fundraising from private corporations and individuals will continue for the Bay Area Host Committee, which recently got 49ers-friendly Levi’s to sign on as a World Cup partner. Federal lobbying is also still on the table, led by an effort from all 11 host sites to secure $625 million for security costs.