The global governing body is set to declare unprecedented earnings of $15bn (£11.2bn) from this summer’s flagship tournament, far surpassing the financial goals established before the competition began.
Member associations were briefed on the revenue surge by Gianni Infantino on Saturday. The organization had originally forecast $11bn in income. Reports suggest that hospitality packages and ticket sales, particularly through the high-cost resale market, are responsible for a large portion of the gain. The governing body collects a 15% fee from both the purchaser and the vendor on the secondary market.
National football associations are expected to gain from the enlarged tournament fund, though the precise allocations have not yet been determined. The financial windfall will serve as a boost for Infantino, who is likely to see it as reinforcement for his standing following a month filled with disputes across the host nations.
Significant anger erupted when the governing body was seen as yielding to pressure from Donald Trump by rescinding the red card issued to the American forward Folarin Balogun during a last-16 match against Paraguay. The organization has maintained that the disciplinary panel acted independently, yet resentment has continued to simmer, notably among European bodies. Nevertheless, Infantino has already secured more than 200 endorsements from member associations for his re-election in March. The promise of additional funds from the tournament’s remarkable revenues is likely to discourage some associations from voicing any dissatisfaction publicly.
Such a financial success could also boost the likelihood of the United States staging another edition soon. The 2038 tournament is the next one open for bidding. At a gathering on Friday, Trump affirmed his nation’s keenness for a repeat. “You should choose the United States of America again,” he stated. “This time we will leave Canada and Mexico out.” The US has also engaged in discussions with the governing body about hosting the Club World Cup in 2029.
On Saturday evening, VIP and hospitality passes for Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina, set to take place in New Jersey, were still available on the official ticketing website. Seats in the “trophy lounge” were being sold for $34,500 per person.
The governing body was approached for a response.
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