Record Data Sheet
The FIFA World Cup 2026, currently taking place in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, is not only the edition with the most national teams (48) and the most matches (104) in history — it is also, by far, the most expensive. The tournament alone concentrates an investment of $3.756 billion, more than double that of Qatar 2022. These figures are based on FIFA’s own financial reports.
The Bigger Picture: FIFA’s 2023–2026 Finances
FIFA organizes its finances in four-year cycles. The 2023–2026 cycle, which includes both this World Cup and the new Club World Cup, is on track to close with record-breaking figures:
Revenue has jumped by 72%. In 2026 alone, FIFA expects to bring in $8.911 billion — a stark contrast to $1.170 billion in 2023, $483 million in 2024, and $2.436 billion in 2025. As expected, the World Cup year concentrates the bulk of revenue from TV rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales.
On the expenditure side, 2026 will also be the organization’s biggest financial year: $6.394 billion in total, of which $3.756 billion (nearly 60%) corresponds exclusively to the tournament itself.
Breakdown of the $3.756 Billion Tournament Budget
This is the most revealing line item for understanding where World Cup money actually goes:
Within the operational costs, some specific figures stand out: $79 million is allocated to guest management, $23 million to referee services, $17 million to football technology (such as VAR), and $10 million to event communications.
How the Budget Compares to Qatar 2022
A comparison with the previous edition reveals a shift in priorities, alongside a significant overall increase in spending:
Total budget: from $1.696 billion in Qatar 2022 to $3.756 billion in 2026 — more than double, partly explained by the 14 additional national teams (32 vs. 48).
Largest line item: in 2022, it was prize money ($440 million), ahead of operational costs ($332 million). In 2026, the order is reversed: operational costs ($1.122 billion) now exceed prize money ($1.007 billion), though both have grown considerably.
The Other Side of the Equation: Player Market Values
Against the $3.756 billion tournament budget, the combined market value of the 1,248 players called up by the 48 national teams stands at €17.570 billion, according to Transfermarkt data updated in early June 2026.
Key highlights from that valuation:
Most valuable squad: France, at €1.520 billion, followed by England (€1.360B), Spain (€1.220B), Portugal (€1.010B), and Germany (€947M).
Top 10 squads: account for €9.659 billion combined — more than half the total tournament value. Least valued squads: Qatar (€19.9M), Jordan (€20.3M), and Iraq (€21.2M).
Most valuable players: Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland top the list at €200 million each, followed by Kylian Mbappé (€180M), Pedri and Michael Olise (€150M each).
Key Tournament Facts
48 national teams, 1,248 players, 104 matches.
16 stadiums across Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Final scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium (New Jersey). Expected audience: more than 50 million viewers.
Sources
FIFA financial reports: publicly available at FIFA.com, in the governance/finance section, where budgets by cycle and year are published.
Transfermarkt: public database of player and national team market valuations, updated periodically.
Historical comparison: Qatar 2022 budget data is also available in FIFA’s official financial reports for the 2019–2022 cycle.
© The Expenditure 2026