FIFA has announced that the 2026 World Cup generated $15bn in revenue, exceeding the governing body’s projections. The total may still rise, while ticket sales and hospitality reportedly accounted for $5bn, according to The Times.
That figure would make income from matchgoing fans around five times higher than at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where it reached $929m. Although the 2026 tournament added 40 matches, reported revenue per game also rose, from about $14.5m in 2022 to around $48m.
FIFA said attendance reached 6.8 million, a record for the tournament. The previous high was just under 3.6 million at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The larger attendance is expected to mean greater payouts for FIFA’s 211 member associations.
The revenue figures come as FIFA president Gianni Infantino faces criticism over the organization’s decisions and conduct surrounding the tournament. The source article argues that the financial success strengthens his position, despite controversy over the proposed sale of some World Cup commercial rights to private equity and FIFA’s relationships with political leaders.
Infantino faces an election in March, and the article says many supporters remain behind him despite the scandal. It argues that FIFA’s influence is closely tied to its income and to the financial benefits distributed among its member associations.
Sources: The Guardian Sport.