FIFA World Cup Grant Program (FWCGP)

The FIFA World Cup Grant Program (FWCGP) is a discretionary federal grant initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With a total of $625 million in funding, this program was created to bolster security and preparedness measures in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The U.S. will host 78 matches across 11 cities, an unprecedented scale requiring significant public safety coordination. Given the international scope and high profile of the event, the matches have been designated as Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) I and II, which historically includes events such as the Olympics. The primary objective of FWCGP is to enable state and local governments to implement comprehensive security and preparedness strategies in anticipation of the World Cup. The program will fund activities under five core categories: planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercises (POETE). Examples of allowable costs include surveillance technology, unmanned aircraft systems, emergency response coordination, cybersecurity defenses, training sessions, and operational overtime for security and public safety personnel. The program explicitly prohibits spending on weaponry, traditional public safety staffing, and permanent equipment installations beyond exercise needs. Additionally, no more than 50% of awarded funds may be used for personnel costs without a waiver—automatically granted if needed. Eligible applicants are limited to State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) in nine states—California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington—each representing one or more of the 11 official host cities. These SAAs must pass through 100% of awarded funds to Host City Committee Task Forces, which are responsible for coordinating with local governments and executing the grant-funded activities. Subawards may be made to local units of government and, under certain conditions, to state agencies such as emergency management or law enforcement departments. Applications are submitted through the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) portal, with a deadline of December 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Required components include standard federal forms (SF-424, SF-LLL, lobbying disclosures), investment justifications, and detailed budgets. There are no pre-application requirements. Awards will be announced no later than January 30, 2026, and the performance period runs from July 4, 2025, through August 31, 2026. FEMA Preparedness Officers are assigned to each state and can be contacted for support, along with FEMA Grants News and the Grant Programs Directorate. Evaluation of applications includes both state-level and federal review. SAAs first assess eligibility and completeness, then submit prioritized investment justifications to FEMA. Federal reviewers evaluate feasibility, eligibility, and alignment with national priorities, though no formal scoring system is used. Final funding decisions are made by the Secretary of Homeland Security. This program does not impact other FEMA grants and is expected to recur in line with major international events; however, it is currently framed as a one-time funding opportunity specific to the 2026 World Cup.

Ensure the Investment Justification clearly maps to one or more of the five POETE categories and outlines measurable outcomes; failure to align with terrorism preparedness will disqualify applications.