Times report says Fifa revenue tops $5bn at 2026 World Cup

Fifa is on course to take more than $5 billion from the 2026 World Cup, according to a report in The Times, after strong ticket sales and hospitality packages across North America.

Revenue climbs far beyond Qatar

The newspaper said the tournament’s ticket and hospitality income will pass the $5 billion mark, more than five times the $929 million Fifa made from ticket sales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. That would also beat the federation’s own early projection of $3.3 billion.

The rise has been driven by two changes: the expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches, and the steep pricing policy used for games in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Fans pushed back over prices

The revenue jump drew heavy criticism during the tournament, with supporters objecting to dynamic pricing and Fifa’s fees in the official resale market.

Fifa has not formally confirmed the $5 billion figure, but it has said the money will be distributed in support packages to its 211 member associations. It has long used that argument to defend the financial scale of its World Cup operations.