2026 FIFA World Cup – FIFA's Revenue and Expenses
27 Jul 2026

2026 FIFA World Cup – FIFA's Revenue and Expenses

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, now concluded, was the highest-grossing tournament in FIFA history. Total revenue reached approximately $15 billion, nearly double the $7.57 billion generated by the 2022 World Cup.

This record-breaking revenue was driven by several key factors:

  • The expansion from 32 to 48 participating national teams;
  • An increase in the number of matches from 64 to 104;
  • Record-breaking ticket sales despite higher ticket prices;
  • Significant income from broadcasting rights and commercial sponsorships.

Approximate Revenue Breakdown

- Broadcasting & Streaming Rights: $6–7 billion

- Sponsors & Commercial Partners: $4–5 billion

- Ticket Sales: $2–2.5 billion

- VIP Hospitality & Premium Packages: $1–1.5 billion

- Licensing & Merchandise: $0.5–1 billion

Ticket Revenue

The tournament featured:

  • 104 matches
  • An average attendance of 65,000–70,000 spectators per match

This resulted in approximately 6.8–7.3 million tickets sold. Based on the average ticket price, revenue from ticket sales exceeded $2 billion.

Broadcasting Rights

As the world's biggest football tournament, the FIFA World Cup attracts billions of viewers worldwide. Consequently, revenue from television and streaming rights sold to broadcasters across the globe reached an estimated $6–7 billion.

Expenses

It is important to note that $15 billion represents total revenue, not profit.

FIFA incurs substantial expenses to organize and deliver the tournament, including:

  • Prize money for participating national teams;
  • Tournament organization and operations;
  • Security;
  • Refereeing and VAR;
  • Staffing;
  • Football development programs around the world.

Even after these expenses, FIFA's revenue significantly exceeds its costs. In fact, the FIFA World Cup generates the majority of the organization's income over each four-year cycle.

USN