By Robert Haugh
Tonight the Santa Clara City Council will hold a study session about FIFA’s 2026 World Cup. But a lot of information about costs to Santa Clara taxpayers may not be disclosed.
Other cities have publicized critical financial information.
Here’s what former City Attorney Brian Doyle wrote on Santa Clara News Online (SCNO) yesterday:
The first question I have is why does the City of Santa Clara refuse to release unredacted copies of the agreements when the City of Seattle has released completely unredacted copies as shown in this article:
This article also discussed Vancouver’s contract. Their public expenditures are pretty eye-popping:
“In January, the province (British Columbia) shifted responsibility to the City of Vancouver for $230 million in costs and gave it temporary authority to charge a 2.5% accommodation tax through 2030. The province said Vancouver city hall was planning to spend $73 million for security and safety, $40 million for venues, $20 million for the FIFA Fan Festival, $15 million for a host city office, administration and volunteer service, $14 million for traffic and stadium zone management, $8 million for decoration and brand protection, and $8 million for insurance. The budget includes a $52 million contingency.”
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, it’s possible the City staff knows the cost but won’t share it with the public.
In May 2024, they reported that 49ers CEO Al Guido signed World Cup deals that could cost Santa Clara $38 million. Guido did it without an official City Council vote.
It’s been three years since Councilmember Karen Hardy made a presentation to get Santa Clara to support the World Cup bid. Hardy did that after hearing a Guido presentation.
Here’s what Santa Clara News Online reported about the November 16, 2021 meeting:
The second FIFA item was to “Consider a Resolution to Support the Bid to FIFA for the 2026 World Cup and Related Events.” It was proposed by Hardy.
But when Gillmor asked some basic questions about the bid, Hardy couldn’t answer them.
Gillmor wanted to know if FIFA was asking for any fee waivers or if Santa Clara taxpayers would have to assume any liability.
During the meeting, Mission City residents were texting comments like “Hardy has a deer in the headlights look” and “she looks like the kid in class who forgot to do her homework.”
The 49ers still control the City Council majority so it’s unlikely the cost to Santa Clara taxpayers will be released because the team doesn’t want information to get out.
Editor’s Note: For a few weeks, the City Council majority will only be the “49er Four” since Vice Major Anthony Becker resigned after being convicted of felony perjury a few days ago. He will not be at tonight’s meeting. But 49er-backed candidate Albert Gonzalez was elected in November and will soon take Becker’s place as the newest member of the “49er Five.”