R31 Million World Cup Bill: Who Went, Who Paid and Why Taxpayers Still Don't Have Answers

ActionSA and the DA are demanding clarity and accountability from Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie regarding the hefty R31 million spent on FIFA World Cup initiatives.

A growing political storm is brewing over the nearly R31 million spent on South Africa's involvement in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with opposition parties demanding answers on who travelled, how public money was spent and why key details remain outstanding.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA have intensified pressure on Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie after a parliamentary reply revealed that an estimated R30.9 million was spent on travel, hospitality, match tickets and related World Cup programmes.

While the figure has now been placed on record, both parties argue that the disclosure has raised more questions than it has answered.

At the centre of the dispute is the composition of the South African contingent and the department's inability, at this stage, to provide a complete breakdown of individual costs.