FIFA earned £3.8bn in ticket sales at 2026 World Cup — five times Qatar's total

FIFA earned an estimated £3.8 billion in ticket and hospitality revenue from the 2026 World Cup in North America — five times the $929 million (£697m) generated at the Qatar tournament four years earlier — contributing to an overall World Cup revenue figure of $15 billion (£11.27bn), according to a report by The Times.

The figure, which FIFA has not officially confirmed, far exceeded the organisation’s own projections. The expanded 48-team format meant 104 matches were played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — 40 more than in 2022 — giving the governing body significantly more inventory to sell.

The surge in revenue was driven in large part by FIFA’s new dynamic pricing model, under which ticket prices were set by demand rather than fixed at a universal rate. FIFA also took a 30 percent cut from any resale transaction, a policy that drew sharp criticism after tickets appeared on secondary markets at multiples of their face value. The Football Supporters Association in England described the prices as “scandalous”.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino repeatedly defended the pricing strategy, arguing that the organisation’s non-profit status means all revenue is reinvested into football development across its 211 member associations. “The World Cup takes place one month every four years, so we generate money in one month,” Infantino said. “The 47 months until the next World Cup, we spend that money. Three quarters of those countries probably would not be able to have organised football without the grants we could give them, so we always try to find the right balance.”

Infantino is nonetheless facing mounting pressure over his leadership. Several continental federations, including UEFA, have reportedly sought his removal from the presidency. A plan he outlined to sell stakes in FIFA’s competitions to private investors was abandoned within days of being announced.