The 2026 World Cup has been bigger than any tournament before it – and so have the sums of money changing hands. Fifa, world football’s governing body, is expected to surpass the record $7.6bn (£5.6bn) it generated from Qatar 2022, with revenues over the four-year cycle approaching $13bn, according to Marion Laboure, senior strategist at Deutsche Bank Research.
“Fifa is without question the main winner,” Laboure said. Its income comes from broadcasting, licensing, hospitality rights, sponsorship deals and ticket sales. Fifa also moved into the secondary market with its official resale marketplace, taking a 15% fee from both buyer and seller.
“FIFA's 2026 World Cup revenues approach $13bn as fans face $32,970 final tickets and $150 train rides.”
But as the planet’s footballing stars create historic moments on the pitch, financially speaking, this tournament has been tough for fans. The vast sums forked out for tickets alone – and criticism of Fifa’s dynamic pricing strategy, which raises prices when demand is high – have been well-documented.
Even US President Donald Trump admitted he “wouldn’t pay” when asked about the potential $1,000 ticket price for his country’s tournament opener against Paraguay. Tickets for the final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium were officially offered at $32,970, while some resale tickets have been listed for more than $2m.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino defended the costs, arguing they were in line with other US sporting events. Away from tickets, fans have also been squeezed through flights, food and accommodation. One example that hit the headlines was the hike in New Jersey Transit train tickets: a 30-minute journey to the MetLife Stadium rose to $150 from the usual $12.90 for a return fare. A backlash led to prices being cut, but they still remained higher than normal.
While broadcasters have had to spend a fortune to televise the tournament, the viewing figures – and sponsors wanting their brands on show – mean Fifa is likely to push further. The body is considering expanding the tournament yet again to 64 teams, which could include the likes of China and India – and the billions more viewers that come with it. If that happens, the financial winners and losers of the World Cup may become even more starkly divided.