Manhattan Beach Seeks Nearly $1.6 Million in World Cup Security Reimbursements

The California city of Manhattan Beach is seeking $1,595,608.83 in reimbursement for security expenses related to the 2026 World Cup, after its employees logged more than 5,700 overtime hours protecting international teams staying at the Westdrift hotel. The city submitted three reimbursement requests to the Los Angeles World Cup Host Committee in August.

The claims included $1,406,952.66 for eligible overtime hours and $188,656.17 for equipment rentals, including security barriers, fencing and a generator. The requests were still being processed when the report was prepared, which did not specify whether the city had received any payments.

Employees logged 4,527.48 overtime hours in June and 1,207.25 hours in July. Security measures covered the hotel and its surroundings and included traffic control, team escorts and medical readiness; local police and fire departments, as well as federal and international security agencies, also took part.

The tournament period coincided with an increase in the city's lodging tax revenue to about $2.5 million in June and July, up $560,993 from the same period in 2025. However, the report did not specify how much of the increase could be attributed to the World Cup, and treated this revenue separately from the requests for reimbursement of security expenses.

The report recommended that the City Council review the record of preparations, which included more than a year of planning, and that Manhattan Beach apply the lessons learned when preparing for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The proposed action would have no additional budget impact.