FIFA Expects Record Revenue of $15 Billion for World Cup in North America

Comparison to the 2022 World Cup

Compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when FIFA generated total revenue of 5.769 billion dollars, revenue would thus nearly triple. The significant increase is also attributable to the larger field of participants and the expanded host format.

A key revenue factor, according to The Guardian, is ticketing. On the official secondary market, FIFA does not regulate prices and, according to its own statements, profits twice on each resale: once on the initial sale and once on the resale.

Ticketing as a Central Revenue Source

Additionally, according to the newspaper, FIFA charges a fee of 15 percent per ticket from both the seller and the buyer on the secondary market. This model is expected to generate additional revenue in the billions, according to the report.

The 2026 World Cup is the world association's first major event under the expanded tournament format with 48 teams. It is also the first World Cup to be held in three different countries, which increases the organizational effort but also opens up additional markets.

Background: The New World Cup Format

The British daily newspaper The Guardian, which first reported on the new revenue projections, is one of the most important international media outlets that regularly covers the world football association critically. FIFA has so far not publicly commented in detail on the specific figures; the information is based on the Guardian's reporting.

The report was distributed via the news channel of the German Press Agency and is thus also available to German-language editorial offices. How FIFA intends to use the record revenue in the long term, for example for member associations or development programs, is not apparent from the available information.

Reactions and Outlook

Observers interpret the development as an indication that the World Cup format with 48 teams and hosting across three countries is economically viable. The final figures are expected after the end of the tournament, when FIFA presents the official financial report.