The earnings from the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada will make it the most lucrative competition in the history of sport, even if some of the 48 competing countries say they are struggling to make ends meet
AWorld Cup that Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, billed at the draw last December as “the greatest event that humanity has ever seen” will certainly be the most lucrative competition in sporting history.
Fifa has spent the last few years upgrading its revenue projections, with the most recent financial report stating that the world governing body will make $13bn (£9.6bn) from the four-year cycle culminating in this summer’s tournament, almost $9bn of which will be brought in this year.
By way of contrast, the most recent edition of the original Greatest Show on Earth, the Paris 2024 Olympics, generated €4.48bn ($5.24bn).
The financial importance of the World Cup will be spelt out further on Thursday when Infantino will provide further details of Fifa’s draft budget for 2027 to 2030 at its annual congress in Vancouver, with another big increase expected.
