The North American bid to stage the '26 FIFA World Cup is "promising revenues double that of a rival bid from Morocco," and more than three times as much as FIFA generated from the '14 World Cup in Brazil, according to Tariq Panja of the N.Y. TIMES. The projections outline "staggering figures," including $14B in revenue for what will be an "enlarged 48-team format, and a surplus for FIFA" of $11B. USSF President Carlos Cordeiro said during a visit to Europe, "That has to sink in. In terms of value, it could mean 50 million more per association." Panja notes whether those "record projections are attainable, however, remains the subject of some debate." A confidential FIFA document "detailing the revenue and cost implications of expanding the World Cup" from 32 teams to 48 suggests the North American bid's forecast "may be too optimistic." FIFA "draws the largest chunk of its revenues from selling media rights for the World Cup." The organization estimates broadcast rights for '26 will be worth $3.6B, "far less" than the $5.5B the bid is promising. Making the North American bid media revenue target "harder to reach is the challenge of time zones." In certain key markets in Europe and Asia, many kickoff times for a World Cup in North America "would be out of prime time, a fact that Morocco's bid team has highlighted frequently." But Morocco "has its own billion-dollar challenges." The country would "need to build nine stadiums and renovate five others for the tournament, work it says can be accomplished for as little as" $3B. Should the North American bid win, it "will almost certainly deliver a record-breaking tournament" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/5).
