Investment Fund Targets Spain's World Cup Payments in €2.3 Billion Asset Seizure Bid

A €2.3 Billion Dispute Comes to the World Cup

An opportunistic investment fund is attempting to seize Spain's national team payments at the 2026 World Cup as part of a legal battle worth over €2.3 billion.

Blasket Renewable Investments, a fund that purchased arbitration claims against Spain, has filed multiple applications in US Federal Court for the District of Columbia to locate Spanish state assets in America — with the national team's World Cup earnings specifically in its sights.

Legal Notices Sent to FIFA, Adidas and Team Hotels

Blasket has broadened its pressure campaign by sending legal notices to:

• FIFA — regarding prize money and participation payments due to Spain
• Adidas — Spain's kit sponsor
• Hilton hotels — where the Spanish team will stay during the tournament
• High-performance training facilities used by the squad
• Logistics firms handling equipment transport

The strategy is clear: identify any financial flows connected to Spain's participation in the World Cup and attempt to intercept them through US courts.

What's Behind the Dispute?

The claims stem from renewable energy subsidy cuts implemented over a decade ago under former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's administration. International investors who had put money into Spanish solar and renewable energy projects saw their expected returns slashed when the government retroactively changed the rules.

Multiple international tribunals have since ordered Spain to pay compensation. According to reports, the total exposure now stands at over €2.3 billion — comprising €1.763 billion in compensation and €543 million in interest.

One specific award, to infrastructure fund RREEF, was initially set at €40 million but has risen to €74 million with interest.

Spain Has Refused to Pay

Spain has resisted payment for years, arguing that the arbitration awards are invalid under EU law. That resistance has led funds like Blasket to pursue aggressive enforcement strategies — and the World Cup, hosted in the United States where US courts have jurisdiction, presents a rare opportunity to target Spanish state assets on American soil.

What Could Happen?

Whether a US court would actually allow the seizure of FIFA prize money or team-related payments remains to be seen — it would be an extraordinary move with major diplomatic implications. But the legal pressure is real, and it adds an uncomfortable dimension to Spain's World Cup campaign.

For the Spanish team and its fans, the football should remain unaffected. But behind the scenes, lawyers will be working just as hard as the players.

This article is based on reporting from OneFootball and El Periódico Mediterráneo, published April 10, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.