World Cup 2026 Revenues Soar, Exceeding Even FIFA's Lofty Expectations

FIFA, the global football governing body, is projecting unprecedented revenues of $15 billion from the current World Cup, which culminates this Sunday with the final clash between Argentina and Spain. This figure significantly surpasses the organization's initial expectations.

According to reports from The Guardian, FIFA's initial revenue forecast for the tournament, co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, was $11 billion. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has already informed member associations of the revised financial results, as stated in an official announcement dated July 12, 2026.

A primary driver behind this dramatic increase in profits is the substantial revenue generated from hospitality services and ticket sales. The Guardian notes that FIFA does not regulate prices on the official secondary ticket market, instead collecting a 15% fee from both the seller and the buyer for each transaction.

For comparison, throughout 2022, when Qatar hosted the World Cup, FIFA generated revenues of $5.769 billion. However, that tournament featured a smaller format – with 32 teams and 64 matches, in contrast to the current 48 participants and 104 fixtures.

President Gianni Infantino announced that these record earnings would enable the football federation to increase the prize money for every nation participating in the competition.