‘Why did we even start doing this?’: Santa Clara officials say 2026 FIFA World Cup is ‘highly likely’ to be a money loser

Santa Clara officials are projecting a “highly likely” chance that the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium will be a money loser, prompting them to negotiate passing the risk onto the Bay Area Host Committee and the San Francisco 49ers.

The prestigious men’s soccer tournament is returning to the Bay Area for the first time in more than three decades, with Levi’s Stadium — the home of the Niners — having been selected in 2022 to be one of 16 host venues in North America. Six matches...