The $13bn World Cup: how the numbers stack up on Fifa’s 2026 balance sheet

FIFA's 2026 World Cup, held across the US, Mexico, and Canada, is projected to generate $13 billion (£9.6bn) over its four-year cycle, making it the most lucrative competition in sporting history. Nearly $9 billion of that total is expected to be earned during the tournament year itself. FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the event as 'the greatest event that humanity has ever seen,' though some of the 48 competing nations have reportedly struggled financially.