state taxes

2026 World Cup Tax Divide: 30 Teams Face Higher Costs as Treaty Gaps Create Financial Inequality

The 2026 FIFA World Cup faces an unprecedented tax issue as 30 of 48 participating nations lack double taxation agreements with the United States, potentially costing them significantly more to participate. Only 18 teams from countries with DTAs—including European nations, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa—will benefit from tax protections. Teams like Brazil, lacking DTA coverage, face federal taxes of up to 37% plus state taxes varying by venue, while smaller nations like Curaçao and Cape Verde could face larger tax liabilities than wealthy European federations despite lower earnings.