Aside from being one of the most-watched sports competitions in the world, the FIFA World Cup is also one of the biggest financial predictions. In 2022, Qatar spent around $220 billion on the tournament, making it the most expensive World Cup ever. Even though the 2026 edition won’t be that expensive, our research at Nostrabet.com also shows interesting numbers.
According to the stats, around $3.7 billion has been allocated (from FIFA) across various segments for the current FIFA World Cup 2026. The budget reflects FIFA’s ambitions to elevate the tournament to new heights, especially in North America.
But what exactly does FIFA spend its money on? Well, this article will dive deep into the organization’s planned investments for the upcoming event. We will break down how every dollar is being spent.
The Big Investment – $3.7 billion from FIFA
What’s important to remember is that the $3.7 billion is the amount of money that FIFA has spent on the World Cup so far. The main reason why the organization has spent so much is to create an unforgettable experience for fans.
Based on the stats from last year, the $3.7b is broken down across various segments as follows:
- Operational expenses – $1.12B
- Prize money and Club Benefits Program – $1.07B
- Workforce – $380M
- TV Operations – $347M
- Other FIFA World Cup items – $334M
- Stadiums and training sites – $201M
- Team services – $193M
- ICT – $133M
- Marketing rights delivery – $39M
Each of these categories has a vital role in ensuring the World Cup runs smoothly. As you can see, some segments stand out because FIFA spent more on them, so it is time to analyze each one.
Operational Expenses – The Tournament’s Heart – $1.12B+
As we’ve seen from the stats, FIFA has spent the most amount of money on operational expenses – $1.12B. These kinds of expenses cover a wide array of costs, including security, transportation, staffing, logistics, and even technology systems.
Considering the scale of the tournament and the number of countries involved, most people are probably not surprised by these costs. FIFA must ensure that the transport of items, equipment, and staff between cities and venues goes smoothly. It also has to make sure that everyone is safe and that it applies the latest cutting-edge tech for broadcasting and player tracking. Needless to say, all of those things are expensive.
Prize Money and Club Benefit Program – $1B+
The second big segment where FIFA spent a lot of money is related to the Club Benefits Program. With over $1B in spending, this is among the most anticipated aspects of the competition because it impacts clubs and teams.
Our analysis has shown that around $1B will be dedicated to the best-performing teams. This specific amount is much higher than before because the 2026 WC will have a total of 48 teams.
Under the Club Benefits Program, the idea is to reward clubs whose players will compete in the event. The amount dedicated to this specific aspect is not that impressive.
A quick look at previous years’ stats shows that FIFA has increased prize money. The idea behind this decision is to make the tournaments more competitive for everyone.
The Workforce – $380M
Considering the scale of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the fact that it will be in 3 different countries, it’s no surprise that the organization needs a lot of people. From stadium workers to event coordinators, the workforce is the backbone of every tournament.
Outside of FIFA’s staff, the organization will also work with thousands of temporary workers who were hired for the specific competition. There are also many volunteers who will help, and all of this workforce needs to be compensated. FIFA understands it very well, so it has committed a large portion of the budget to staffing the event properly.
TV Operations – $347M
To be honest, we were a bit surprised that the TV operations cost is “only” 347M. After all, this is the category that includes everything you need to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 at home.
For example, the amount includes using the latest broadcasting technology. It also includes the rights fees, as well as production costs. Think of the camera crews, technicians, and even the production team.
Other FIFA World Cup Items – $334M
This is one of those segments that includes almost everything else you can think of. For example, FIFA included things like administrative expenses, sponsorship activation and fan engagement activities.
All of these miscellaneous costs are crucial to ensuring the competition is engaging. FIFA is fully aware of the attention the tournament will attract, and it has to make sure people have a great time.
Stadiums & Training Sites – $201M
Setting up the infrastructure for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is definitely not cheap. However, it seems like the stadiums across the U.S., Canada and Mexico are on point because FIFA’s budget for this segment is just $201M.
Our research shows that the funds primarily go toward upgrading existing facilities and training sites. The organization has to make sure that all participating nations will have what’s needed to do well.
Team Services – $193M
Team services is an interesting budget, especially when you consider that this year’s competition will have 48 teams. FIFA spent this amount on various smaller things related to the teams, such as accommodations, medical services, and transportation. The organization’s goal here is to allow teams to focus on their game without thinking about all of the logistical issues.
ICT and Marketing Rights – $133M and $39M
Lastly, we have the Information and Communications technology and marketing rights. These two segments are much smaller compared to others, but they remain crucial to the overall success of the World Cup.
The ICT, for example, includes investments in tech to support the competition’s infrastructure. As for the marketing rights, the focus is on ensuring that FIFA’s commercial partners can maximize their campaigns.
Outside of FIFA’s Expenditures
FIFA’s $3.8B expenditure is interesting, but the organization is definitely not the only one that will spend a lot of money. According to our research, experts predict that the tourist expenditure will reach around $7.5B in total. This is almost twice as much as what FIFA has spent, and it shows that the countries that host such a high-level event benefit a lot from it.
The stats also show that the host city’s operational expenditure is around $1.8B. To be honest, we expect this amount to be much higher, especially compared to how much Qatar spent last year. Then again, the three host countries already have solid infrastructure they can leverage to their advantage. Lastly, we have capital investments, and the amount here is close to $900M.
All of these stats mean that total expenditure for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is close to $14B. Assuming the numbers stay around this number, this will make the event the third-most expensive after the one in Brazil in 2014 and Qatar in 2022. With that said, the difference between the two is staggering – the World Cup in Brazil was around $15B, whereas Qatar spent $220B.
An interesting fact is that when the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994, it spent only about $500M. As we can see, the money needed to host such a tournament have increased drastically over the last 30 years.
People’s Perception of the FIFA World Cup 2026
Since the FIFA World Cup 2026 is the biggest football tournament of the year, it’s no surprise that most fans are eager to see it in action. We also believe that online bettors will be more than happy once the competition starts. The World Cup will provide excellent opportunities for people who want to bet on football, as bookies will offer tons of new options. Expect special markets, exclusive bonuses and specially designed features.
There is an interesting research from Statista from March this year, where you can see that people in countries like Germany and the UK view the 2026 World Cup more negatively compared to past tournaments. 18% of people in Germany have said that, whereas the same percentage in the UK is 13%. Only 5% of people believe that in the U.S.
When it comes to having a more positive view, Germany is last with 5%, followed by the UK and the U.S., each with 17%. The situation gets slightly better in the slightly more positive column with 15% in Germany, 21% in the UK, and 19% in the U.S.
The “No Change” category has the biggest percentages – 46% in Germany, 42% in the UK and 56% in the USA. Lastly, we have the Much More Negative category, where Germany is in the lead once again wth 16%. The UK has 8%, and the U.S. had 3%.
The main reason why people in Germany and the UK view the 2026 World Cup differently is due to the political events. There is no arguing that politics have been all over the place in the last couple of years, and this also affects sports. In fact, we are not even fully sure whether Iran, one of the participants, will make it to the competition.
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