The $13bn World Cup: how the numbers stack up on Fifa’s 2026 balance sheet

The staggering financial projections for the 2026 World Cup highlight the growing commercialization of sports, where the disparity between the governing bodies and participating nations becomes increasingly pronounced. While FIFA stands to gain immensely, the struggles of some teams underscore the challenges faced by smaller footballing nations in a system that often prioritizes profit over equitable distribution of resources. This raises questions about the sustainability of such financial models in international sports.