World Cup safety is in danger due to funding chaos and a lack of security coordination, U.S. host city officials warn

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Yesterday marked the 100-day countdown to the World Cup’s kickoff; while some fans placed bets on tournament favorites Spain and England winning the trophy, others expressed concerns over whether North America is fully prepared to host the event.

Safety concerns loom large for the dozens of crowded events scheduled across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico:

  • The U.S. and Israel’s military campaign in Iran has amplified existing security anxieties linked to last week’s cartel violence in Mexico.
  • Mexico’s government and FIFA have assured that the matches held there will be safe.

Additionally, there are now doubts about whether Iran’s national team will participate in stateside matches.

Cash-strapped cities

Last week, U.S. host city officials warned lawmakers that World Cup safety is at risk due to funding chaos and a lack of security coordination between local and federal agencies. Uncle Sam earmarked $875 million to enhance game security, but those funds are being held up by a standoff over Homeland Security funding in Congress.

The World Cup (Mundial) has run into municipal issues… with the Boston-area town of Foxborough threatening to block the matches set to take place there until someone covers the $7.8 million in security costs.—SK

This report was written by .