Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Vice Chairman Kionne McGhee is demanding an immediate halt to government subsidies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in Miami Gardens next June. The move comes shortly after Mayor Daniella Levine Cava revealed her proposed county budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, rife with cuts to make up for a $402 million deficit.
McGhee is asking that $46 million currently set to be spent on FIFA-related activities be returned to support critical community programs instead, according to a Friday press release.
“I was proud to support bringing the World Cup to Miami-Dade, believing it would showcase our world-class community and drive economic growth,” McGhee said in the press release. “But the Mayor’s proposed budget, which guts critical nonprofits and our county’s Community Action Agency, changes everything. When our residents are facing the loss of programs that keep communities alive, safe, and dignified, spending millions on FIFA stadiums and events becomes indefensible. I can no longer support it.”…