Soaring ticket prices could help FIFA pull in $15B this World Cup cycle — where does the money come from, where does it go?

While FIFA’s revenues have exploded as fans pay higher-than-ever prices, the relative share of money going to support global soccer development has decreased.

By: Richard Sheehan, University of Notre Dame, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 21, 2026

Words: 1,580

Last Updated: 2 months ago

Body Text Preview

By Richard Sheehan, University of Notre Dame

At soccer’s World Cup, the top scorer gets the “golden boot,” and the best goalkeeper is handed the “golden gloves.” This year’s tournament will also provide organizer FIFA with a golden opportunity to create billions in additional ticket revenues.

Ticket prices are so high that even President Donald Trump, a billionaire ally of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, said he wouldn’t pay.

The concern is that FIFA is …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us