A parting gift as Miami mayor: Francis Suarez wants to give FIFA $7.5 million

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Because Miami Mayor Francis Suarez apparently cannot leave office without one more extravagant flourish, Alcalde Lame Duck is asking taxpayers for a tiny little parting gift: $7.5 million in “city services” to support FIFA-sanctioned events next year.

Yes, fútbol fans, that’s on top of the $5 million cash payout the city already agreed to hand over, according to a July budget memo. Because what’s $12.5 million among friends? Especially when those friends are FIFA, billionaires, and the tight little circle of people who have been bankrolling and enabling Suarez’s presidential cosplay for years.

The ask is wrapped in a pretty bow, of course. Suarez calls the World Cup a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” even though he won’t be mayor anymore when the party starts. But don’t worry, he still wants to make sure the tab is left with Miami residents.

And those World Cup games? They’re not even in Miami. They’re in Miami Gardens.

Read related: Buyer’s remorse: Kionne McGhee wants refund on $46M to FIFA World Cup

Miami-Dade has already provided $21 million in in-kind police and fire services (solid waste, too?). Then they kicked in $25 million to support the events (read: VIP parties). But Suarez says the city will need to provide millions in police, fire, sanitation, traffic control and “logistical support” anyway — mostly for the massive FIFA Fan Festival he wants to host in Bayfront Park, which he claims will draw “over 1 million attendees.” No word on how the number was calculated, but why start being specific now?

And when asked how the city arrived at that magical $7.5 million figure? The mayor shrugged and basically said: Trust me, bro.

No backup documentation. No breakdown with projected cost estimates by department. No explanation of how the city priced out services that haven’t been scheduled, sized, or even described.

Just vibes. FIFA vibes.

Read related: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez gave Trump a key to city; gave us the finger

So, let’s not pretend this is about soccer, okay? This is about the host committee — an “independent” nonprofit helmed by the usual Miami power players who always seem to benefit when public dollars flow.

Chair Rodney Barreto (aka Miami’s most durable political rainmaker) has been leading the charge to squeeze government contributions. The Herald reported this months ago. Barreto’s not talking now — neither is host committee CEO Alina Hudak, another veteran of Miami’s insider ecosystem as former Miami Beach city manager and a county deputy mayor under Carlos Gimenez.

Also on the board? Jorge Mas, co-owner of Inter Miami and architect of Suarez’s treasured Miami Freedom Park deal, and billionaire Ken Griffin, Suarez buddy — he gave Baby X $1 million for his fat chance five-minute presidential dream — and one of the stars of the mayor’s recent ballyhooed America Business Forum conference.

At that shindig, Griffin even said: “If he asks me to jump, the only answer is how high.” He didn’t say anything about how high Suarez would jump for him. But that seems pretty obvious.

Hey, maybe Griffin should pay for the World Cup services. That $7.5 million to him must be a tenth of his vacation budget. Or maybe what he spends on his holiday decorations every year.

By the way, Gianni Infantino, the FIFA patrón himself, also made an appearance at the business conference, where Suarez gave President Donald Trump the key to the city. Ladra wonders if Infantino’s attendance was to sweeten the deal.

Read related: Miami-Dade could cut back services, give millions to FIFA for World Cup

Meanwhile, back in reality, taxpayers are already roiling about the county’s $46 million in subsidies, police overtime, and assorted expenses for World Cup-related events. Now, Suarez wants the City of Miami to pile on another $7.5 million in “donated services,” which is a cute euphemism for “you’re paying for it whether you asked for it or not.”

All of this comes weeks before Suarez leaves office, with no accountability for what happens afterward and no guarantee the economic impact will ever match the hype.

The City Commission will vote on the proposal Thursday. Prepare for fireworks — or for rubber stamps. In Miami, you never know.

But Ladra knows this: If Francis Suarez wants to keep courting billionaires, FIFA executives and global power players, he should do it on his own dime after January.

Because the taxpayers he’s leaving behind have paid enough.

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  Francis Suarez, World Cup 2026