FIFA Could Make Billions From the World Cup. Host Cities Will Get Little in Return.

Reporting Highlights Lopsided Contracts: Experts say World Cup contracts lock host cities out of prospective revenues more than ever, leaving FIFA with a larger share of the revenue. Texans on the Hook: A Texas taxpayer-funded program helps cover costs, but the state struggles to calculate whether there is a benefit. Lacking Transparency: Many cities have fought the release of their contracts with FIFA. Those that are public have key cost and revenue information redacted. These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. When Texas dedicated $22 million to host the 2017 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, state officials expected a return on their investment. But a state analysis after the Patriots’ thrilling comeback win said it was “impossible” to tell if Texas taxpayers broke even on their investments. If anything, Texas came up $14 million short, according to a breakdown of tax revenues in the same analysis. Texas taxpayers likely will be on the hook again when Houston and Dallas welcome the FIFA World Cup this June and July. The cities are among 11 in the U.S. that have agreed to shoulder hundreds of millions of dollars in