President FIFA Gianni Infantino informed FIFA members that World Cup in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico earned 15 billion dollars, reports British Guardian.
Estimates by FIFA were that the World Cup would generate 11 billion, but they were significantly exceeded. In addition, the revenue generated by the previous World Cup in Qatar 2022 was almost doubled, as Qatar brought in $7,6 billion.
"This was the sports event with the largest attendance. The largest in all sports. We surpassed all previous ones," said US President Donald Trump.
Photo: FoNet/APDonald Trump and Gianni Infantino
Highest ticket earnings
The biggest sources of income were accommodation and ticket sales, over five billion dollars were earned through that aspect, according to the Guardian. For the first time, revenues from this segment surpassed the money earned by FIFA from television rights (TV rights).
During this year's World Cup, a new ticketing system was used - dynamic (dynamic pricing), where prices changed according to interest. In addition, on the secondary market, FIFA earned 15 percent from the seller and 15 percent from the buyer.
Attendance at the matches of 6,6 million spectators exceeded the sum of the visits of the previous two World Cups, which hosted 6,4 million people. The 2026 World Cup also surpassed the previous attendance record, which was held in America in 1994 when there were 3,5 million people.
TV space for more profit
By moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter term, FIFA got itself into trouble because it was threatened with a lawsuit from the American Fox News. The soccer umbrella organization ironed it out by awarding the TV rights for this year's World Cup to Fox without a tender. American television thus obtained the rights for the English language at the same price of 485 million dollars, which it also paid for Qatar, even though there were 40 more games at this World Cup.
In addition to Fox, ESPN and NBC are also interested in TV rights for the next World Cup in 2030. It is mentioned that the streaming platform Netflix has also entered into negotiations with FIFA, they have already bought the rights for the Women's World Cup in 2027 and 2031.
Source: The Guardian
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