Spain’s World Cup prize money faces 30% US tax, rep calls it ripoff
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Spain, the defending champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, earned $50 million in prize money, but much of that may be subject to federal taxes in the United States; potentially up to 30%.
“I think this is a robbery,” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told Fox News Digital.
“I’m not a fan of that, but Americans have to do it. American professional athletes do it, so they knew that when they came here.”
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Congressman Tim Burchett speaks to reporters after a House Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on July 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Income from activities performed in the United States is generally subject to tax by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in almost all cases. Under U.S. tax law, certain payments to nonresident foreign athletes are generally subject to federal withholding at a rate of 30% unless reduced by a tax treaty or other exemption.
“This is wrong, and it underscores something bigger,” Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., said of the potentially higher tax rate on Spain’s bounty.
Burchett argued that the potential tax burden sends the wrong message as the United States prepares to host larger international sporting events, saying the country should encourage foreign athletes and visitors to spend money domestically rather than subject them to heavy tax obligations.
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French fans celebrate after their team wins the 2026 World Cup match between France and Sweden in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on June 30, 2026. (Photo: Leonardo MUNOZ / AFP via Getty Images)
“I’m not a big fan of the IRS,” Burchett said. “I guess they made that money here, but I don’t like it. We want to encourage these people to come here and spend their money, and then we take a big chunk of it.”
“We must have a better tax system,” he added.
The World Cup’s prize pool totaled $871 million, of which $655 million was tied to performance in the tournament. All teams participating in games in the US will have some tax on their winnings, even if the only payment received is for participation.
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Jackson also criticized the broader US tax code, arguing that companies should pay more taxes instead of workers. He called it a “class example of what’s wrong with our taxation system.”
“Instead of having tax loopholes, they should be paying taxes,” Jackson said. “Working people, laborers should not have to pay 30 percent of their income in taxes.”
Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, agreed with his colleagues that a potential 30% tax on the prize is “too much,” but used the opportunity to touch on the importance of hosting the World Cup in America. As a retired NFL player, he shared how that experience led him to football, which he had no interest in before the World Cup.
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“I appreciate football so much now,” Owens told Fox News Digital. “I think this is going to be a game changer for a lot of our kids. So I want to congratulate the president and everyone who made this happen.”
“Unfortunately, that’s what’s happening in our tax country.”
