FIFA’s next World Cup will pull in $13 billion in revenue over five weeks, a 72 % jump from the last cycle that ended in Qatar. 104 matches, up from 64, drive the surge. Infantino’s push to turn the governing body into a profit engine fuels the rise, but it also invites scrutiny for fans, sponsors, and host cities and governments today.

Ticket and hospitality fees are the main drivers, projected to exceed $3 billion, tripling previous totals. FIFA will also harvest about $4 billion from broadcast rights and nearly $1.8 billion from sponsorships, including a Saudi Aramco deal that doubles earlier returns. Critics argue prices are five times higher than 2022, sparking legal probes in New York and New Jersey and California again.

The money will fund a $3.9 billion development budget, with flat annual grants of $8 million to each of 211 member associations. While some nations cite the support as vital, others question the equity of a uniform payout, noting that India's share is less than one cent per citizen. FIFA insists its audit system guarantees transparency, but doubts linger in 2026 today.