FIFA President Gianni Infantino claps after receiving the FIFA Peace Prize from President Donald Trump during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Dan Mullan/Pool Photo via AP)

As the 2026 tournament approaches, FIFA has moved closer to solving one of the most significant financial issues facing participating nations, reaching an understanding with the United States Treasury that will allow all 48 teams to apply for exemption from federal taxes on their World Cup earnings. The development follows months of concern that expanded tournaments, held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, would place a disproportionate financial burden on national associations, particularly those without existing tax treaties with the United States. While the latest breakthrough addresses federal taxation, discussions are ongoing and many teams may still face state and city taxes, depending on where their matches are played.

Timeline of negotiations and how the issue emerged

The issue first became clear in April 2026, when reporting indicated that FIFA unable to secure comprehensive tax exemption For participating countries, despite having tax-exempt status in the United States since the 1994 World Cup. Under US law, income earned within the country is subject to taxation, meaning that national associations will be liable for federal, state and local taxes on prize money and commercial earnings generated during tournaments. At that stage, only 18 of the 48 eligible countries were protected through a double taxation agreement (DTA) with the United States. Those agreements, which have been largely negotiated by European countries with Canada, Mexico, Australia, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa, reduce or eliminate some tax liabilities. The remaining 30 countries, many of which were from small or emerging football economies, had no such protection and were expected to face significantly higher costs. Countries such as Curaçao and Cape Verde, both of whom are making their World Cup debut, were cited as examples of how the system can create inequalities, with smaller associations potentially facing a higher effective tax burden than wealthier European associations due to their tax status.

The Success of the Federal Tax Exemption and How It Works

On April 30, the day before the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver, The Guardian reported Discussions involving the US Treasury and Donald Trump’s World Cup taskforce were expected to yield a commitment from FIFA that national associations would be able to apply for federal tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code. According to the report, FIFA has been assured that if the organizations meet the necessary conditions, the application is likely to be successful. Operating as non-profit entities, not distributing profits to private shareholders, and refraining from political activity. National football associations are expected to meet these criteria.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

If implemented as expected, the exemption would remove the most significant portion of the tax burden, bringing federal income tax rates in the United States to approximately 37% for individuals and approximately 21% for corporate entities.

State and city taxes still create unequal fiscal outcomes

Even with federal exemptions, the fiscal picture remains uneven because state and local taxes will still apply in many cases. Tax rates vary widely depending on location. Florida, which will host the matches in Miami, has no state income tax, while New Jersey, where the finals will be held at MetLife Stadium, can reach as high as 10.75%, and California, with matches in Los Angeles and San Francisco, has a rate as high as 13.3%. Because the United States will host 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches, including all matches through the quarterfinals, most teams will essentially play games within US jurisdictions where these taxes apply. Canada and Mexico, which will each host 13 matches, have already granted full tax exemptions to participating federations, creating a contradiction within the same tournament.

FIFA World Cup 2026 (via Getty Images)

The result is that a team’s final tax liability will depend not only on how much progress it makes but also on where its matches are scheduled, in what officials previously described as a “postcode lottery”.FIFA has declined to comment publicly on the negotiations, while sources cited by The Guardian say the situation is still ongoing. Yet the change represents a major shift from earlier expectations that teams could lose a large portion of their tournament income to federal taxation, while questions surrounding potential city and state taxes are also considered part of broader negotiations and have yet to be fully resolved.

Why does this issue matter to small and non-European countries?

The financial implications of the State of Origin were particularly significant for countries without DTAs, many of whom rely heavily on World Cup revenues to finance domestic football development. Earlier, FIFA increased the total prize and participation fund by 15%, taking it to $871 million (£645 million), with each of the 48 teams guaranteed at least $12.5 million. However, without the tax relief, a larger portion of that income would have been kept within the United States through taxation.

The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed during the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Concerns raised at the beginning of the year revealed that some unions could face losing more than 20% of their earnings, a figure that would have a disproportionate impact on smaller unions compared to wealthier European counterparts.

How is it different from previous World Cups?

In previous editions of the tournament, host governments have generally granted full tax exemptions to all participating teams, thereby ensuring a level playing field. The most recent example is the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where all 32 national associations were exempted from local taxation on their earnings. That approach ensured that participation revenues flowed back into national football systems without deduction. The three-country hosting model of the 2026 tournament, coupled with the United States’ tax structure and treaty system, has created a more complex environment that FIFA is attempting to address through negotiations rather than automatic exemptions. With the tournament set to begin on June 11, when Mexico hosts South Africa in the opening match, resolving these outstanding details remains a priority for FIFA and the participating associations as preparations enter their final stages.

Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Heinrich Klaasen came into limelight when a video of him warning a fan against filming his family went viral on social media. The South African cricketer was clearly irked in the clip and was seen firmly asking the man to stop recording and respect his privacy before the situation escalated further.

Klaasen, who is known to be extremely protective of his personal space and family time, Have recently retired from international cricket A commitment to prioritize life away from the game after his retirement from the international arena.

In the widely circulated video, Klassen can be heard for the first time giving an explicit warning: “Listen to me very carefully. Don’t do that, okay. I told you, no, please go away. Thank you very much, but don’t take photos.”

He then raises his voice even higher while the fan continues to record with the camera pointed downwards, “If I turn around and you take a picture of me and my family, I promise you we’ll be on the floor. Okay, just turn around and walk away, please.”

As the conversation continues and the fan walks away from her with his camera still on, Klassen reiterates her stance more firmly, saying, “Oh, listen to me very carefully. Stop it. Okay. I told you no photos. This is my family. Okay. So put your camera away.”

Player privacy under scrutiny?

The incident has sparked strong reactions onlineKlaasen’s fans and followers are coming out in support of her over the non-consensual filming of her and her family. He criticized the fan following in the country for people forgetting the concept of boundaries and privacy – especially when athletes are spending private time with their families.

The video is spreading across platforms, reigniting discussions about players’ privacy, the increasing presence of cameras in public places and the fine line between fan enthusiasm and intrusion into personal lives.

Meanwhile, Klaasen has continued to wreak havoc on the bowlers in the ongoing Indian Premier League season, scoring 414 runs at an average of 59.14 in nine innings. While his strike rate has come under scrutiny, Klaasen is not worried about it as he is helping his team climb up the points table. He is currently striking at 157.41, second only to teammate Abhishek Sharma in the Orange Cap list.

He will next be in action when SRH host Kolkata Knight Riders at the Uppal Stadium on Sunday, May 3.

ipl 2026 | ipl schedule | ipl points table | ipl player stats | purple cap | orange cap | ipl video | cricket news | live score

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राजस्थान के अलवर जिले में दिल्ली-मुंबई एक्सप्रेसवे पर बुधवार देर रात दर्दनाक सड़क हादसा हो गया. इस हादसे में मध्य प्रदेश के श्योपुर के रहने वाले एक ही परिवार के 6 लोगों की जिंदा जलकर मौत हो गई. बताया जा रहा है कि यह परिवार माता वैष्णो देवी मंदिर से दर्शन कर लौट रहा था. इस घटना ने पूरे इलाके को झकझोर कर रख दिया है और एक्सप्रेसवे पर सुरक्षा और आपातकालीन व्यवस्था पर गंभीर सवाल खड़े कर दिए हैं।

आपातकालीन सुविधाओं की कमी पर उठाए सवाल
जानकारी के मुताबिक, यह एक्सप्रेसवे देश के सबसे महंगे टोल मार्गों में से एक है, लेकिन यहां आपातकालीन सेवाओं का अभाव है। अगर कोई हादसा हो जाए तो मदद के लिए करीब 20 किलोमीटर का सफर तय करना पड़ता है. इससे पहले भी नवंबर 2025 में राहुवास के पास एक कंटेनर में आग लगने से ड्राइवर की मौत हो गई थी. 17 दिसंबर 2025 को पिनान इलाके में एक पिकअप में आग लगने से तीन लोगों की जान चली गई थी.

मदद देर से पहुंची, नुकसान बढ़ गया
बताया गया कि हादसे की जानकारी रात करीब 11:15 बजे मिली, लेकिन फायर ब्रिगेड करीब 30 मिनट बाद मौके पर पहुंची. तब तक कार पूरी तरह जल चुकी थी। हादसा सशस्त्र सीमा बल के मौजपुर ट्रेनिंग सेंटर के पास हुआ, जहां चलती कार में अचानक आग लग गई और कुछ ही सेकेंड में वह आग के गोले में तब्दील हो गई.

सीएनजी किट बनी आग का कारण
कार में सीएनजी किट लगी होने के कारण आग तेजी से फैल गई। कार चालक तो किसी तरह बाहर निकलने में कामयाब रहा, लेकिन परिवार के बाकी सदस्य अंदर फंस गए। स्थानीय लोगों का कहना है कि आग लगने के बाद कार का लॉकिंग सिस्टम फेल हो गया, जिससे लोग बाहर नहीं निकल सके. एसएसबी जवानों ने बचाव का प्रयास किया, लेकिन आग की लपटें तेज होने के कारण किसी को बचाया नहीं जा सका।

शॉर्ट सर्किट की आशंका, जांच जारी
पुलिस के मुताबिक शुरुआती जांच में शॉर्ट सर्किट से आग लगने की आशंका जताई जा रही है. साथ ही लंबी दूरी तक कार चलाने से भी तकनीकी खराबी आ सकती है। इस हादसे में तीन महिलाओं और एक बच्चे समेत कुल 6 लोगों की मौत हो गई. घटना के बाद पूरे इलाके में मातम और गुस्से का माहौल है.

A 21-year-old man has been jailed after sending an obscene video to a teacher and then blackmailing her into sharing it with students, leading to the victim losing his job and attempting to take his own life.Muawiya Amin, from Allanton, Derbyshire, posed as a woman on Instagram and had a conversation with the teacher which turned sexual. During the exchange, the victim sent a video of himself performing a sexual act at his workplace.Prosecutors told Derby Crown Court that Amin later demanded £1,000 to stop the footage being shared. The teacher paid £400 via PayPal in an effort to stop the video being released and contacted police the same day, The Sun reports.Despite receiving payment, Amin continued to distribute the footage to the teacher’s students. The victim, who remained anonymous throughout his life, was dismissed from his job and later attempted suicide.Sentencing Amin to 15 months in prison, Judge Shaun Smith Casey described his actions as “depraved behaviour”.“He went through all the concerns about his privacy, reputation and personal safety,” the judge said. “Even when the money was paid you still sent it.”He said the consequences for the victim were serious.The judge said, “His work was done, but the worst part was that on the night it was published, he tried to take his own life.” “You knew what you were doing and you achieved it.”In a statement read out in court, the victim described the emotional impact of the incident, saying he suffered extreme distress and felt his life had been destroyed.Amin admitted to blackmailing. His defense said that he had acted under pressure and was trying to get along with people he considered his friends.“He fully accepts that his actions were wrong and he is responsible,” his lawyer told the court. He said that he has the support of his family and is working in the family business.The court heard the victim survived after someone contacted him on the night he attempted to take his own life.This case highlights the serious consequences of online exploitation and blackmail, especially when victims are targeted through social media platforms.