FIFA expects to earn $6,1 billion from the 2018 World Cup

Right now we are moments away from the kickoff of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, that will start on Thursday with the inaugural ceremony and the first game between Russia and Saudi Arabia. We talked deeply about the feelings and the hype that surrounds this year’s tournament, maybe one of the most awaited ever. Of course, though, other than playing football, the brands’ collections, and the collateral initiatives, the World Cup has another major aspect: business. According to a report from The New York Times, FIFA has estimated a $6,1B earning from the tournament in Russia.

The earnings estimated by FIFA, if confirmed, would entail a 10% increase than the original expectations of the organizations led by Infantino and $1,3B more than it earned for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. That would be due to Chinese sponsors, as they will be seven out of the 20 that will be part of Russia 2018, confirming how big football is in China, even with the failures of the league and national team. So, nice stadiums, nice supporters and everything, but don’t forget that the World Cup is a business matter in the first place.