Economist Projects FIFA Revenue From 2026 World Cup at $15 Billion

Notre Dame emeritus finance professor Richard Sheehan projects that FIFA could collect between $14 billion and $19 billion during the 2023-2026 World Cup cycle, with ticket and hospitality revenue alone reaching as much as $9 billion. Sheehan, author of "Keeping Score: The Economics of Big Time Sports," based the estimate on dynamic pricing data, stadium capacities, and resale activity.

Category 1 tickets that opened near $600 in fall 2025 now frequently exceed $1,000, with some matches priced above $2,500.

The 2026 tournament features 48 teams and larger venues than any World Cup since 1994. 1 million available seats. FIFA introduced limited $60 supporter tickets, but these represent fewer than 600 seats per match. Dynamic pricing, used for the first time at this scale, has produced sharp increases across sales phases. FIFA also receives revenue from its controlled resale platform.

44 billion budget. 89 billion. The organization budgeted $11 billion for 2023-2026, later revising the figure to $13 billion. Sheehan calculates that broadcasting and marketing are tracking budgeted levels, leaving ticketing as the main variable.

Development program funding rose 44 percent from the prior cycle, while competition costs increased 130 percent. Development's share of budgeted revenue fell from 44 percent to 36 percent. FIFA's 2027-2030 budget projects an additional $3 billion in costs, driven primarily by events and competitions.