FIFA earns record billions from expanded World Cup ticket sales

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 20:20 · Archive

FIFA earned approximately $5 billion from ticket and hospitality sales at the 2026 World Cup, five times the previous tournament's revenue.

FIFA earned approximately $5 billion in ticket and hospitality sales from the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, according to reporting in The Times. This far exceeded FIFA's initial estimate of $3.3 billion and contributed to overall World Cup revenues of $15 billion. The figure represents five times the $929 million generated from ticket sales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The spike in revenue was partly driven by the tournament's expansion to 104 matches, 40 more than previous tournaments. However, FIFA's use of dynamic pricing and a 30 per cent cut of secondary market ticket sales also significantly increased income, according to the Daily Mail. Fan organisations including the Football Supporters Association and Football Supporters Europe criticised the pricing as 'scandalous' and 'extortionate', calling it a 'monumental betrayal' of supporters already paying thousands for travel and accommodation.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the ticket prices, maintaining that FIFA is a non-profit organisation that reinvests World Cup revenue into football development globally. He noted that FIFA generates revenue during the month-long tournament and spends it across the following four years. FIFA did not confirm the $5 billion figure when contacted by The Times.

How it is being reported

• FIFA raked in astonishing $5 billion from extortionate World Cup ticket prices in USAFIFA raked in billions of dollars from ticket and hospitality sales during the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Daily Mail Sport · 28 Oct, 20:03
• FIFA confirm staggering World Cup revenue after controversial ticket policyThe newly expanded in the World Cup in the summer has seen FIFA bank record revenues, owing to the fact they introduced a new ticket policyMirror Sport · 28 Oct, 17:22

In this story: FIFA · Gianni Infantino · United States · Canada · Mexico · Qatar · Football Supporters Association · Football Supporters Europe

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log