How did FIFA get so rich?

FIFA’s wealth is primarily attributed to the sale of television, marketing, and licensing rights for football events like the World Cup, which generates massive revenue, with the organization operating on a four-year cycle and keeping infrastructure costs low by leaving them to host countries. The FIFA World Cup is the main source of the organization’s revenues, with revenue coming from the sale of television broadcasting, marketing and licensing, and hospitality rights, and ticket sales, resulting in record-breaking revenues of close to $5.77 billion in 2022.

Understanding FIFA’s Revenue Streams

FIFA’s revenue streams are diverse and extensive, contributing to its immense wealth.

FAQs about FIFA’s Wealth

General FAQs

1. How much money did FIFA generate in 2022? FIFA generated close to $5.77 billion in 2022, the highest figure recorded since at least 2003.
2. What is the main source of FIFA’s revenues? The main source of FIFA’s revenues is the FIFA World Cup, with revenue coming from the sale of television broadcasting, marketing and licensing, and hospitality rights, and ticket sales.
3. How does FIFA operate? FIFA operates in a four-year cycle, with the FIFA World Cup being the crowning event in the fourth year.

FIFA and the World Cup

4. How much money does FIFA make from the World Cup? The sale of rights relating to the FIFA World Cup made up the majority of FIFA’s revenues, with a record high of $6,314 million or 83% of all categories in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.
5. Does hosting the World Cup bring profit to the host country? Although hosting the World Cup can bring in revenue, most host nations do not end up profiting from having the tournament on their soil, as many things built for the tournament are often unable to be turned back into hard cash.
6. How much did Qatar spend on the 2022 World Cup? Qatar spent around $220 billion on the 2022 World Cup, with the majority of funds spent on hospitality, transportation, and telecommunications.

FIFA’s Financials and Governance

7. What is FIFA’s net worth? FIFA had revenues of over $5.8 billion in 2022, ending the 2019–2022 cycle with a net positive of $1.2 billion, and had cash reserves of over $3.9 billion.
8. How much does FIFA pay to the winner of the World Cup? The winner of the World Cup receives $42 million in prize money, which has substantially increased since 1982.
9. Is FIFA owned by a company? FIFA is not owned by a company, but the FIFA video game series is published by EA Sports, a division of the American gaming company Electronic Arts, and licensed from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association.

Hosting the World Cup and Its Implications

10. Why did Qatar invest so much money in the World Cup? Qatar’s goal in hosting the World Cup is not centered around the amount of money they will make but rather to make an impression on the world and put their country on the map.
11. Will Qatar lose money from hosting the World Cup? Qatar expects the FIFA World Cup to contribute $17bn to their economy, down from an initial estimate of $20bn.
12. What happens to the stadiums after the World Cup? Some stadiums, like Stadium 974 in Qatar, are designed to be movable and can be transported to play in another nation after the World Cup.

Player and Referee Compensation

13. Do players get money for winning the World Cup? Players receive prize money from their respective federations, with the winner receiving $42 million.
14. How much do referees make in the World Cup? Referees get a flat fee of $70k per tournament and a $3k bonus for every game they complete.
15. How much is David Beckham paid by Qatar? David Beckham was paid around £125million by Qatar for his deal with the country.