The 2026 World Cup has become the biggest tournament in football history, with more teams, more matches, and a much larger global audience creating enormous financial opportunities.

As football’s biggest stars make history on the pitch, billions of dollars are also being generated through broadcasting, sponsorships, licensing, hospitality, ticket sales, tourism, and other commercial activities.

However, the financial benefits are not being shared equally. While some organisations and businesses are expected to make record profits, others face significant costs.

FIFA: A Major Financial Winner

FIFA is expected to be one of the biggest financial winners from the expanded World Cup.

The football governing body generated a record $7.6 billion from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. With the 2026 tournament being hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico and featuring 48 teams, FIFA is expected to generate even more revenue.

Deutsche Bank Research senior strategist Marion Laboure said FIFA is “without question” the main financial winner.

FIFA’s revenue comes from broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals, licensing, hospitality, and ticket sales.

Its income across the four-year World Cup cycle is expected to approach $13 billion, highlighting the enormous financial scale of the modern tournament.

The expanded competition has created additional commercial opportunities, while the North American market provides access to a huge audience and some of the world’s biggest corporate sponsors.

While FIFA stands to benefit significantly, the World Cup’s financial impact is more complicated for host cities, businesses, fans, and governments, with some facing major costs alongside the potential economic benefits.