World Cup Cities Say They Can’t Wait Much Longer on Safety Funds
A FIFA drone show above the Manhattan skyline in Liberty State Park, New Jersey on July 11.
Photographer: Dan Mullan/Getty ImagesWorld Cup host cities from Kansas City to Miami are sounding the alarm over delays in federal public-safety grants with only a few months left before millions of fans descend for the world’s largest sporting event.
The US Department of Homeland Security has yet to award any grants through a $625 million program overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that’s meant to help cities and states with their World Cup security needs. Municipal officials say federal help is essential given the scale and complexity of the 39-day event and with local budgets under strain.