At the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the Saudi Arabian men’s team beat the star-studded Argentina team led by Lionel Messi in their first World Cup group stage match and social media was abuzz. The news broke, accompanied by a curious video of the Saudi team being rewarded with a Rolls Royce car each.
Unfortunately, the news about this extraordinary reward was false. This does not detract from the bountiful financial harvest that the World Cup brings to FIFA, the competing national teams, the officials, the fans and the host nation.
Here is a list of some of the financial/commercial aspects of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022:
- $220 billion: An estimate of the total amount spent by the Qatari government since hosting rights were granted to the oil-rich Middle Eastern nation. This is far more than the $11.6 billion reportedly spent by Russia for the 2018 event and far exceeds the $7 billion jointly spent by South Korea and Japan to host the event 20 years ago.
- $466 million: This figure represents the total revenue budget forecast for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It consists of five main revenue streams with the sale of television broadcasting rights accounting for 56% of the total revenue.
- $1.7 billion: FIFA’s total cumulative revenue from brand sponsors paying up to $63.26 million for rights over a 4-year cycle. Adidas, which has the longest participation in the event since its participation in Mexico in 1970), Coca-Cola, Wanda Group, Hyundai/Kia, Qatar Airways, Qatar Energy and Visa are all designated as FIFA partners, while Budweiser (sorry about the change in alcohol policy), Byju, crypto.com, Hisense, McDonald’s, Mengulu Dairy, and Vivo are designated as official sponsors within the 4-year cycle, according to GlobalData’s report, “Businesses of the 2002 FIFA World Cup”.
- $440 million: That is the total prize money available for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This is an additional $40 million to the $400 million that was available at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
- $42 million: The total amount the winner of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will receive in prize money, compared to the $38 million France received for winning the 2018 edition in Russia.
- $9 million: It represents the minimum amount that any of the participating teams will receive during the tournament. This amount is paid for participation in the group stage and increases as the team progresses in the competition. This money is the constant basis of conflicts between African teams and their football associations of origin regarding the distribution formula. FIFA is not directly involved in this and leaves it to individual associations to determine.
- $48 million ($1.5 million per participating nation) made available by FIFA to help prepare for the World Cup.
- $209 million: FIFA announced the generosity it plans to share with the clubs whose players participate in the World Cup. According to a FIFA statement: “As part of its commitment to recognize the contribution that football clubs make to the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup, today FIFA began the application process for its Club Benefits Program , in which $209 million will be distributed to clubs around the world. the world.” The fund has tripled in value since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
- $70,000: This is the base salary for referees at the World Cup with an additional $3,000 as allowance for each game they oversee. The assistant referees and the fourth official are paid $25,000 for their participation and an additional $2,500 for participation in the match.
- $128 million: This is how much Kylian Mbappé, the young French forward heir to the soccer throne, earns in a year, according to Forbes. This consists of $110 million for on-field activities and another $18 million for off-field earnings. Lionel Messi is second with $120 million consisting of $65 million for on-field earnings and $55 million for off-field earnings, while Cristiano Ronaldo is third with $100 million that includes $40 million for on-field earnings. field and $60 million for off-field earnings.
- $24 million: The highest amount paid to a footballer to promote a particular brand of football boots. Puma pays this amount to Brazilian superstar Neymar to fit their boots.
- 40%: The number of teams in this year’s World Cup whose jerseys and kits are provided by US manufacturer Nike, with Adidas at 34.8% and Puma at 12.1%, according to figures analyzed by SUN Newspapers in the UK United.
- $1.8 billion: An estimate of how much Americans are expected to place on different outcomes during this year’s event, according to the American Gambling Association. Around the world, billions will be wagered on the games and betting companies will increase advertising in and around the matches, with Africa being a new battleground for most.