FIFA’s biggest tournament has also become its biggest money-making machine.

Football’s global governing body is expected to announce revenue of $15 billion following the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The reported figure is significantly higher than both FIFA’s original forecast and its later revised projection.

The final amount has not yet appeared in a publicly available audited financial statement, but member associations were reportedly informed of the increase by FIFA president Gianni Infantino before the World Cup final.

Revenue blows past original target

According to Nick Ames and Matt Hughes of The Guardian, FIFA is preparing to announce revenue of $15 billion, around $4 billion above its original target of $11 billion.

Read also: Messi dethroned as Danish pundit calls time on an era

FIFA subsequently raised its projection to approximately $13 billion, but the tournament’s commercial performance appears to have exceeded even that revised figure.

The governing body’s original budget for the 2023–2026 financial cycle anticipated $11 billion in total revenue. Television rights were expected to generate $4.26 billion, while marketing agreements were valued at $2.69 billion.

Ticket sales and hospitality were initially forecast to bring in another $3.1 billion.

Qatar comparison needs correction

The claim that the 2022 World Cup generated $7.5 billion is not entirely accurate.

Read also: Premier League countdown begins with blockbuster opening weekend confirmed

According to FIFA’s official financial report for the 2019–2022 cycle, the organisation generated $7.57 billion across the entire four-year period.

Of that total, $6.31 billion came from rights and income connected to the World Cup in Qatar. The 2022 tournament generated $929 million from ticket sales and hospitality alone.

That distinction is important because figures for individual tournaments and complete four-year financial cycles are often presented interchangeably. A final comparison with 2026 will require FIFA’s audited accounts to show precisely how the new revenue has been allocated.

Ticket market fuels financial boom

The expanded World Cup offered FIFA considerably more inventory to sell. The competition grew from 32 to 48 teams and from 64 to 104 matches, creating additional broadcast content, sponsorship opportunities and millions more available tickets.

Read also: Dibu opens door to shock Argentina exit after World Cup heartbreak

Hospitality and the official resale market reportedly played a major role in pushing revenue beyond expectations.

FIFA charged a 15 per cent fee to both the buyer and seller when tickets were resold through its platform. That meant the organisation could collect $300 in fees from the resale of a single $1,000 ticket.

Hospitality packages for the final between Spain and Argentina were still being advertised for as much as $34,500 per person shortly before the match.

FIFA already eyes another expansion

The financial success arrives as FIFA considers making the World Cup even larger.

Read also: Vinicius turns heads with striking new look after World Cup exit

According to Reuters, as published by Al Jazeera, Infantino has confirmed that a proposal to expand the 2030 tournament from 48 to 64 teams will be examined by FIFA’s relevant committees.

No decision has been approved, meaning a 64-team World Cup remains a proposal rather than a confirmed format.

However, after the extraordinary revenue generated in North America, FIFA now has a powerful financial argument for adding another 16 teams and potentially increasing the number of matches once again.

Read also: World Cup pirates hit hard as nearly 3,000 streaming domains are blocked