By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

ZURICH, Switzerland – The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is projected to shatter financial records, with FIFA anticipating a revenue of $10 billion directly from the tournament. This figure positions it to become the most profitable sporting event in history.

According to a report by the London-based Peach Marketing Group, this unprecedented financial success is attributed primarily to the tournament’s expanded format, which will feature 48 participating countries for the first time, up from 32. This expansion also increases the number of matches from 64 to a staggering 104 games. The Athletic has further highlighted that this larger scale, combined with new sponsorship opportunities, are key drivers behind the projected income surge.

Beyond direct revenue, the tournament is expected to draw an immense global audience. It’s estimated that 5 billion viewers, or approximately two-thirds of the world’s population, will tune in to watch the six-week competition. Additionally, the World Cup is anticipated to generate up to 700 billion “media engagements” across all platforms, indicating a massive digital footprint.

FIFA’s overall financial outlook for the 2023-2026 cycle is equally robust. The international football federation projects its total revenue for this period, which includes earnings from the ongoing Club World Cup and other competitions, to reach $13 billion. This represents a remarkable 75 percent growth compared to FIFA’s revenue from the previous 2018-2022 cycle, showcasing a significant financial explosion for the organization.

The tri-nation hosting arrangement will see matches played across 16 cities, spread throughout the vast territories of America, Canada, and Mexico, further contributing to the event’s monumental scale and commercial appeal.