The 2026 World Cup, which kicks off today in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is set to become the biggest financial success in FIFA’s history, confirming the ever-increasing commercial value of the world’s premier football event. The expansion of the tournament to 48 teams and 104 matches, combined with hosting in three countries, is set to generate record revenues of $10.9 billion.
This is a 45% increase on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which brought in $7.5 billion, and is another leap in FIFA's steady rise in revenue from the tournament. The 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan brought in just $1.6 billion, while four years later in Germany, revenue rose to $2.6 billion, a 62.5% increase. The next big leap came in 2010 in South Africa, when total revenue reached $4.2 billion, a further 61.5% increase.
Growth has continued at a slower but steady pace in subsequent tournaments. The 2014 Brazil tournament brought in $4.8 billion, up 14.3% from 2010, while the 2018 Russia World Cup brought in $5.3 billion, up 10.4%. Qatar 2022 was another turning point, with revenues soaring to $7.5 billion, up 32% from 2018. If the 2026 projections are confirmed, total revenues will have increased by more than 580% since 2002, clearly demonstrating the enormous economic scale of the World Cup.
In this context, FIFA increased the amounts to be distributed to the 48 teams by 15%, with the total amount reaching $871 million.
The decisive role of television rights
Television rights continue to play a key role in this growth. This year, for the first time in the history of the event, broadcasting revenues are expected to exceed $4 billion. The evolution of this particular source of revenue is impressive, since in 2006 FIFA collected $1.3 billion from television rights, with the amount soaring to $2.4 billion in 2010, an increase of almost 85%. In 2014, a smaller increase was recorded, to $2.5 billion, while in 2018 revenues reached $3.1 billion, showing an increase of 24%. Qatar in 2022 brought a new increase to $3.4 billion and the forecast for 2026 places the amount at $4.3 billion, i.e. approximately 26.5% higher than the previous World Cup. Overall, revenue from television rights will be more than triple compared to 2006.
The contribution of sponsorships
Equally important is the contribution of sponsorships, which continue to strengthen their position as a key pillar of FIFA's finances. From $600 million in 2006, sponsorship revenue increased to $1.1 billion in 2010, recording an increase of 83.3%. In 2014, it reached $1.6 billion, showing an increase of 45.5%, while in 2018 it reached $1.7 billion and in 2022 it reached $1.8 billion, showing a period of more moderate growth. However, the forecast for 2026 speaks of a spectacular increase to $2.8 billion, an amount increased by 55.6% compared to Qatar and the highest FIFA has ever recorded from commercial partnerships and sponsors.
The above figures confirm that the commercial value of the World Cup continues to grow rapidly, with this year's event expected to create new financial records for FIFA, recording historical highs in both total revenue and the two main sources of funding, television rights and sponsorships.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
