FIFA Earns $5bn From 2026 World Cup Ticket Sales Amid Fan Backlash
FIFA has reportedly generated about $5 billion from ticket and hospitality sales at the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, significantly exceeding its initial revenue projection and drawing renewed criticism over the high cost of tickets.
According to a report by The Times, the world football governing body generated the amount during the tournament, with the figure reportedly surpassing its initial estimate of $3.3 billion.
The reported revenue represents more than five times the $929 million FIFA earned from ticket sales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The overall revenue from the 2026 tournament was estimated at approximately $15 billion.
The sharp increase has been attributed partly to the expansion of the competition from 64 matches in Qatar to 104 games in North America, as well as the introduction of dynamic ticket pricing, which allows prices to fluctuate according to demand.
FIFA also reportedly benefited from ticket resales through its official platform, where fees charged to buyers and sellers contributed to its revenue.
However, the pricing strategy attracted criticism from football supporters’ groups, who argued that the high costs made the tournament less accessible to ordinary fans, particularly those travelling from abroad.
Football Supporters Europe condemned the pricing policy, describing it as a betrayal of supporters and calling for more affordable access to the competition.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously defended the organisation’s pricing approach, arguing that ticket prices reflected the North American entertainment market and that lower prices could encourage resellers to make substantial profits on the secondary market.
In response to an inquiry from The Times, FIFA did not confirm the reported $5 billion figure, stating that the official financial details would be published in its next annual report after the necessary auditing procedures.
The organisation also said the tournament’s revenue would provide additional resources for its 211 member associations to invest in football development.
Despite the controversy, the reported figures highlight the enormous commercial scale of the expanded 2026 World Cup and the growing debate over balancing football’s financial ambitions with supporters’ ability to attend matches.
