
<p>Hosting World Cup games is normally a dream for most cities around the globe. After all, the tournament helps bring in massive amounts of money through various avenues. However, the handling of the current situation does not thrill the city of Santa Clara, California.</p>



<p>Santa Clara is hosting multiple matches during the upcoming 2026 World Cup at Levi’s Stadium. Although the city’s stadium authority technically owns the stadium, the San Francisco 49ers currently manage events at the arena. According to a report by <em><a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/09/28/levis-stadium-49ers-made-commitments-to-fifa-for-world-cup-2026-without-santa-claras-consent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Mercury News</a></em>, city officials say that the NFL team is bowing down to FIFA without their knowledge.</p>



<h2>Santa Clara official claims World Cup deal poses ‘risk’ to city  </h2>



<p>The news outlet reports that the city of Santa Clara had been trying to get their hands on documents related to the World Cup. However, the 49ers have held on to the paperwork. This led Mayor Lisa Gillmor to raise the question of potentially issuing a subpoena to obtain these documents. Some of this paperwork reached the hands of city officials.</p>



<p>City Manager Jovan Grogan is now claiming that the 49ers signed certain contracts with FIFA in 2017 or 2018. According to Grogan, the NFL team made “<a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/09/28/levis-stadium-49ers-made-commitments-to-fifa-for-world-cup-2026-without-santa-claras-consent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">significant commitments</a>” to the world’s governing body of soccer in these contracts.</p>



<p>These commitments mostly revolve around improvements to Levi’s Stadium. FIFA reportedly has full power to decide these arena alterations. However, Santa Clara voters previously approved a measure in 2010 that states that the city will not be responsible for paying for maintenance and improvements at the stadium.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, a Levi’s Stadium spokesperson has released a statement claiming that they will acknowledge the aforementioned measure. “Any required costs for the city of Santa Clara to host the World Cup will be reimbursed in accordance with the stadium agreements, as they have been since the stadium opened,” <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/09/28/levis-stadium-49ers-made-commitments-to-fifa-for-world-cup-2026-without-santa-claras-consent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">read</a> the statement. </p>



<p>“There has also been a proposal in front of the Santa Clara stadium authority for months which would officially relieve them of any financial burden.”</p>



<h5>City also concerned FIFA’s branding rights may annoy Levi’s</h5>



<p>There are also concerns over FIFA’s demands for branding and signage rights. Santa Clara and the 49ers previously signed a massive $220 million naming rights deal at the stadium with denim company Levi Strauss. City officials worry that FIFA’s signage demands could negatively affect this deal.</p>



<p>While Santa Clara city officials are unhappy with their NFL team, other World Cup host cities are experiencing similar issues. A <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifas-eye-opening-demands-for-world-cup-2026-host-cities-20230811-WST-449616.html">previous report</a> laid out FIFA’s stunning demands with the city of Seattle as well. The World Cup runs across Canada, Mexico, and the United States in June 2026.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Pond5 Images</em></p>


World Cup host accuses 49ers of making commitments to FIFA

Santa Clara officials claim that the 49ers have made agreements with FIFA over hosting 2026 World Cup games without their knowledge.


<p>The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has officially announced plans for a new expansion team in San Francisco’s Bay Area. It is the 14th host region in the United States women’s top flight, and its first season is in 2024. There are currently a dozen teams in the league, but two additional clubs will be added next year. It was <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/utah-royals-to-return-to-nwsl-as-latest-expansion-team-20230313-WST-423136.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced last month</a> that the Utah Royals FC are also set to join the league in 2024.</p>



<h2>World Cup winners headline expansion ownership of NWSL in Bay Area</h2>



<p>Ownership of the Bay Area team brings familiar faces. Former USWNT stars Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner headline the group of investors. Along with the former players, club ownership will be led by Sixth Street Partners. According to <em><a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/nwsl/story/4915904/uswnters-part-of-bay-area-nwsl-expansion-team-owners-group" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPN</a></em>, the conglomerate has reportedly invested $125 million into the newly-formed team.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The NWSL is officially coming to the Bay Area in 2024!</p>— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/1643223707639267328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>A large chunk of this investment comes down to a $53 million expansion fee to join the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nwsl-tv-schedule-and-streaming-links/">NWSL</a>. This is a considerably higher fee than other recent expansion clubs. Angel City FC, San Diego Wave and the aforementioned Utah Royals all <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/nwsl-to-expand-to-san-francisco-boston-and-utah-report-says-20230128-WST-417415.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> paid less than $5 million for their franchise fees.</p>



<p>The remaining $70 million investment into the Bay Area side goes to a training facility, staff, and team infrastructure. </p>



<h5>Majority investors have ties to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Yankees </h5>



<p>Sixth Street Partners is led by CEO Alan Waxman. The financial group previously invested money into FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and the San Antonio Spurs. Sixth Street also has partnership ties with the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys.</p>



<p>“We want to thank Commissioner Berman and the NWSL Board for their endorsement and their partnership throughout this process,” Waxman <a href="https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-expansion-to-bay-area-california" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> on Tuesday. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with this legendary group, who are lifelong role models to a generation of women, and we look forward to working with them to build a championship franchise on and off the field.”</p>



<p>“The Bay Area is where this all began,” <a href="http://“The Bay Area is where this all began,” said Brandi Chastain, Co-Founder of the Club, Santa Clara ’90, two-time FIFA World Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist. “We are as excited about what this club will achieve on the field of play as we are for what it will represent for generations of women athletes and professionals yet to come. We look forward to the Bay fans embracing our team and celebrating the competitive spirit and talent we will put onto the field to continue the strong Bay tradition of playing to win championships.”" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> former two-time World Cup winner Brandi Chastain. “We are as excited about what this club will achieve on the field of play as we are for what it will represent for generations of women athletes and professionals yet to come. We look forward to the Bay fans embracing our team and celebrating the competitive spirit and talent we will put onto the field to continue the strong Bay tradition of playing to win championships.”</p>



<p>The team’s name, home stadium and training location are still in the works. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo</em></p>


A club from the San Francisco Bay Area will become the latest expansion team in the NWSL after investors spent big for the team.

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FIFA

World Cup host accuses 49ers of making commitments to FIFA

Leagues: NWSL

Investors buy NWSL expansion team for $53 million in Bay Area