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≡ FEDERAL MEGA-EVENT AID ≡
“The purpose of this section is to support State, Tribal, and local efforts on transportation issues necessary to obtain the national recognition and economic benefits of hosting international sporting events in the United States.”
That’s from the “Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act of 2025” introduced Friday by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), to provide transportation support funding for host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
In specific, the grants must be used for the movement of people or things:
● The funding program can assist “a State, Indian Tribe, or unit of local 16 government (including a port authority or transit agency) hosting a covered event.”
● The Secretary of Transportation is to allocate grants equally “among the host metropolitan planning organizations for the most imminent covered event and any other covered events occurring during the same fiscal year, subject to the condition that a host metropolitan planning organization may not receive more than $10,000,000 under this subparagraph for a single covered event.”
● If funds are left over, then “host metropolitan planning organizations” could receive grants, also subject to the $10 million ceiling. This would be the World Cup host cities
● Host metropolitan organizations can receive assistance beginning five years in advance of their events (i.e., 2029 for the 2034 Winter Games).
● A total of $50 million per fiscal year – for the Federal government, from October through the following September – is authorized.
The funding applies to Olympic, Paralympic, Special Olympics or men’s or women’s FIFA World Cup, which will shortly include:
● 2026 FIFA World Cup (assigned)
● 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (assigned)
● 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup (to be assigned in 2026)
● 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (assigned)
So, this is $50 million a year to help the FIFA World Cup host cities, especially, but only – potentially – $10 million to assist the L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Authority for 2026-27 and 2027-28, and a much smaller amount for 2025-26, when the 11 U.S. host cities for the FIFA World Cup would get funding as well.
Under the terms of the bill, the LA28 organizers would also be in line to receive as much as $10 million annually for Federal fiscal years 2026-27 and 2027-28 for transportation purposes.
In a joint statement, Moran explained:
“It was a tremendous feat to secure a spot as a host city during the 2026 World Cup, and I have no doubt that Kansas City will be a welcoming community for hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from around the world.
“Preparations are already underway for the games, and this legislation will support local community and agency efforts to improve infrastructure to connect fans with businesses, hotels, the airport and other host cities during the World Cup.”
Cantwell added:
“With less than 500 days until Seattle hosts its first 2026 World Cup game, we need the Department of Transportation to get in the game and support host cities as they work to showcase the best of American innovation and hospitality.
“This bill will help ensure the hundreds of thousands of fans visiting Seattle can get to and from games safely and efficiently by improving coordinated transportation planning across the Pacific Northwest.”
The statement noted that “Grants would support permanent transportation projects – building new roads, expanding light rail, purchasing new buses, creating bike lanes, improving existing roads or highways, or making airport terminal improvements.”
The bill has not been numbered by the Senate Clerk as yet.
Observed: The joint statement makes clear this is primarily aimed at aiding the U.S. host communities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will each host between 6-9 matches.
As it relates to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, this is a lot less money than is being sought by L.A. Metro – about $3 billion in Olympic transportation funding – but it is a start.
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