FIFA is banking on unprecedented revenues from its first-ever 48-team World Cup (June 11–July 19), while the economic benefits for participating nations and host cities remain far less certain.
In its latest projections, football’s governing body forecasts a record $13 billion in revenue for the 2023–2026 cycle, including $8.9 billion in 2026 alone.
This figure, which reflects the impact of the men’s World Cup, represents a 56% increase compared with the 2022 edition, a 67% increase compared with the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and double the revenues generated by the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The joint hosting by the United States, Canada, and Mexico provides significant visibility for sponsors, while the expansion from 32 to 48 teams broadens audiences. However, according to Raffaele Poli, director of the Football Observatory at CIES in Neuchâtel, the World Cup brand is so strong that its growth is largely part of a long-term trend.
From one edition to the next, FIFA has improved its ability to monetize the tournament by selling sponsorship packages across multiple regions, negotiating tougher broadcasting deals, particularly with China, and adopting dynamic ticket pricing, despite criticism from supporters’ groups and legal challenges in Europe and the United States.
As a result, the increase from 64 to 104 matches alone does not explain the surge in ticket sales, with expected revenues of $3 billion, more than triple those of 2022. Television rights revenues are projected to rise by 34% to nearly $4 billion, while sponsorship revenues are expected to increase by 21%.
More Revenue, But Also More Costs
What will FIFA do with such a financial windfall, less than a year before a decisive Congress for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who will seek another term on March 18, 2027—possibly his last?
Of the $3.7 billion FIFA plans to spend on the World Cup, around one-quarter will go to participating national teams and clubs releasing players for international duty. The tournament’s total prize fund was increased by 15% in late April to $871 million, up from $440 million in 2022.
Each participating nation will be guaranteed at least $12.5 million, while the eventual champion could earn up to $50 million. However, there is no guarantee that these amounts will offset significantly higher expenses resulting from the tournament’s geographical spread and taxes levied in the United States and Canada, unless football associations manage to secure exemptions.
"You’ll probably need to reach the quarter-finals to make a profit,” a source close to football authorities told AFP.
In addition, FIFA will allocate $1.7 billion in 2026 alone to its development programme, a key electoral tool that provides funding to each of its 211 member associations, regardless of size.
And What About the Host Cities?
"In this ecosystem, host cities are often the least well-positioned to negotiate favourable terms,” notes Raffaele Poli. Moreover, the indirect benefits they are promised—in terms of visibility and long-term tourism development—are difficult to measure objectively.
The contracts signed by the 16 host cities are particularly unbalanced, reserving most revenues—including parking fees—for FIFA, while local authorities bear the costs of infrastructure and major security operations.
In early May, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) warned that reservations were below expectations in many host cities, citing large-scale room cancellations previously blocked by FIFA, visa restrictions, and an unfavourable geopolitical environment.
By contrast, Miami, which will host seven matches, reported stronger-than-expected booking levels and expects to welcome one million visitors, creating around 9,000 jobs during what is usually its low season.
Meanwhile, the New York–New Jersey Host Committee, which will stage eight matches including the final, estimated in July 2025 that the tournament could generate $3.3 billion in economic impact for the region.