Noem Blames Dems for $625M World Cup Funding Delay

Kristi Noem, the US homeland security secretary, responded forcefully on Thursday to concerns about a holdup of federal funding for this summer's World Cup, confirming that "no funds have been awarded yet" in a post on X. About $625 million in grants administered by the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA) were authorized last summer and set to be distributed to US host cities to aid with security and planning for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

Noem's comments follow congressional testimony earlier this week by host city officials who expressed concern that they may not have time to adequately prepare for the tournament if they don't receive the funds in short order. Representative Nellie Pou stated: "It's time for DHS to do its job and get this funding out the door."

The ongoing government shutdown affecting FEMA has caused a delay in the delivery of this critical funding, raising concerns among officials in the host cities about their ability to properly stage events and security for the international soccer competition. Noem, however, placed the blame squarely on Democrats, stating that the political impasse was responsible for the holdup.

"No funds have been awarded yet," Noem said, adding that the "shutdown is affecting FEMA's ability to get this money out." She argued that the delay was "due to the Democrats" and their refusal to end the stalemate, asserting that the host cities were being "held hostage" by the political gridlock.

The stakes are high, as the 2026 World Cup is expected to be the largest in the event's history, with 48 teams competing across 16 host cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Officials in those cities have been working for years to prepare infrastructure, security protocols, and fan experience elements to welcome millions of international visitors.

"Time is of the essence," said Pou. "We need DHS to step up and get this funding to the host cities immediately so they can finalize their plans and be ready to welcome the world." Noem's comments suggest the political divide in Washington may further complicate efforts to ensure a successful and secure World Cup tournament this summer.