FIFA has generated more than $15 billion in revenue from the 2026 World Cup in North America, significantly exceeding its previous financial projections and making the 48-team tournament the most lucrative sporting event in history.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the figure on the eve of the World Cup final during a meeting with FIFA members at Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria.
FIFA had previously forecast $11 billion in revenue from the tournament. The final figure is more than double the $7.5 billion generated during the 2022 World Cup cycle in Qatar.
Sources have indicated that the final total could even rise above $15 billion.
Ticketing and hospitality drive record revenues
The increase in revenue has been driven in large part by ticketing and hospitality. FIFA had previously projected $3 billion from those two categories alone, but the final figure has reportedly exceeded that estimate.
The governing body also generated significant revenue from the secondary ticket market, where it reportedly took a 30 percent cut split between buyers and sellers.
The 2026 World Cup was the most expensive edition in tournament history from a ticketing perspective. Prices ranged from a limited number of $60 tickets for group-stage matches to $32,970 for the highest-priced tickets for the final.
FIFA also introduced dynamic pricing and a new “Front Category 1” ticket category, offering front-row seats at exceptionally high prices.
However, FIFA’s ticketing practices have come under scrutiny. The attorneys general of New Jersey, New York, California and Texas have launched investigations into the organization’s ticketing policies.
Record revenues set to benefit national associations
Under Infantino, FIFA has distributed more than $5 billion in development funding to member associations. The record revenues generated by the 2026 World Cup are expected to provide further financial support to national federations.
However, the way member associations spend FIFA development funds remains a source of criticism, with audits of those expenditures not made publicly available.
Financial success could lead to more tournaments in the United States
The financial success of the 2026 World Cup is expected to increase the United States’ appeal as a host for future major football events.
Reports have suggested that the 2029 Club World Cup could be staged in the United States, while the country has also been linked with the 2038 World Cup.
FIFA said it generated $2 billion from last year’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup. That tournament is now expected to expand to 48 teams.
A 64-team World Cup in 2030 has also reportedly emerged as a possibility, while discussions over potential changes to FIFA statutes could allow Infantino to remain in office beyond 2031 if he is re-elected next year.
Infantino strengthened despite criticism
The record revenues and plans to further expand FIFA’s major tournaments have strengthened Infantino’s position after he faced criticism throughout the 2026 World Cup.
The FIFA president was also criticized over his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Earlier in the tournament, FIFA reviewed the one-match suspension of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun after Trump reportedly requested that the case be reconsidered.
The decision raised questions over the sporting integrity of the tournament, with concerns also emerging over favorable draws for host nations and a number of controversial refereeing decisions.
Despite the controversy, the 2026 World Cup has delivered an unprecedented financial return for FIFA. With revenue exceeding $15 billion, the tournament has set a new benchmark for the commercial scale of global sport.