8 Of The Most Expensive World Cup In History

The FIFA World Cup is an international football Mundial that will feature senior national teams around the globe in a month and a few days to come.

The 22nd edition will be the first FIFA World Cup tournament to be hosted in the Middle East, while it’s also the tournament’s second Asian country to host the Mundial after Korea and Japan in 2002.

The tournament was moved from the ritual June/July date to winter due to the country’s extremely hot weather which the European players featuring at the tournament can’t cope with.

Even though the Mundial is slated for winter, temperatures in the country during the competition will remain high, as such Qatar spent a fortune on infrastructure including air conditioning in every stadium to make sure those at the game venue have a surreal experience.

With the excitement of the Mundial in Qatar gradually gathering momentum across the globe, we will do a roll call of the most expensive World Cup in history.

Which Is The Most Expensive World Cup

The United States Of America – (1994, €0.5BN)

The FIFA World Cup often allows the host country the opportunity to showcase itself globally throughout the tournament. As a host, the attraction of vast television revenue, ticket sales, and a large chunk of visitors gracing the tournament are some of the benefits they enjoy.

The USA 1994 edition was one of the FIFA tournaments that were used to launched a new era of slick commercial management in the world of football. The tournament was hosted in several cities across the country and was supported by big brands including Coca-Cola and Adidas.

Whilst the county’s overall profits are estimated at $1.45bn after the Mundial against the total cost of $5.6bn spent on hosting. According to the report, the World Cup generated a total profit of $620m for Los Angeles alone during the tournament, $440m more than what the Super Bowl generated in the same year.

France – (1998, €2.4BN)

What did you remember the France 1998 World Cup for? It was one of the best FIFA tournaments filled with surreal and dramatic moments which includes, Beckham kicking Diego Simeone and the whole Romania squad donning the blond hairstyle reminiscent of Gazza’s hairstyle at Euro 96.

Staging the World Cup for the second time in front of their fans, Les Bleus conquered the tournament hot favorite Brazil in the final to achieve the glorious moment they’ve been waiting for against all odds.

At a global level, 12 multinational brands including Adidas paid €35m each for the benefit of being associated with the tournament. According to the report, a total cumulative television of 37m viewers tuned in to watch 64 games over four weeks, compared to the 19.9b viewers who tuned in to watch the Olympics in Atlanta.

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South Africa – (2010, €3.7BN)

Hosting the World Cup cost the rainbow nation more than it had initially anticipated following the announcement of the Mundial in 2004. the challenge of footing the bill turned out to be a difficult challenge for the country.

Nonetheless, they were able to host the world as the first African nation to achieve such a feat.

The President of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Danny Jordan, hinted that the hosting of the tournament will create an additional 159,000 jobs thanks to public investments worth €994m.

The official expenditure planned for stadium construction and renovation for the World Cup was €1.7bn, but they spent beyond that cumulatively in the end with the World Cup failing to be a profitable edition for the Rainbow nation having spent €3.7bn in hosting.

Germany – (2006, €4.5BN)

Before the commencement of the tournament in Germany, the German Chamber of Commerce hinted at an optimistic note predicting that the Mundial will have a positive impact on the country’s economic growth.

According to Ludwig George Braun, he opined that the World Cup will create 60,000 jobs and boost the nation’s overall economic growth. And after the conclusion of the tournament, it was reported to be the most profitable edition with an estimated economic impact of €14.1bn.

Whilst the economic impact of the World Cup was reported to be €14.1bn, Germany announced a profit of €8.1bn to the country at the end of the Mundial.

South Korea/Japan – (2002, €7.3BN)

The first World Cup to be hosted on Asian soil will be remembered for how well the Brazil national team dazzled, and how the Turks had a cinderella run at the tournament.

In terms of profitability and economic impact of €11.8bn taxpayers’ money used in financing the 2002 edition in Korea/Japan came second, with the hosting cost of the competition reported to be €7.3bn whilst the sum of €4.3bn was recorded as profit for the host.

With the magnitude of impact, the World Cup brought to both countries in terms of economic boost and image, it was worth the price they paid in hosting the world with some of the stadiums constructed then now being used by local teams in both countries.

Russia – (2018, €12BN)

The cost of hosting the FIFA World Cup reportedly cost Russia €12bn which was estimated by the nation’s former Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, making it the most expensive football competition in history as of then.

After Russia won the hosting bid in 2010, it was reported that the official budget for the tournament was amended 12 times, with €6.11bn going into transport infrastructure, €3.45bn for stadium construction, and €680m for accommodation.

With the hosting of the tournament costing the nation a fortune, the Russian government complained the World Cup was a gift for its youth due to the unforgettable memories and glittering new infrastructure that comes with it.

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Brazil – (2014, €15.6BN)

In terms of spending extravagantly, the 2014 FIFA World Cup edition ranks second as one of the most expensive tournaments ever held. According to report, the Mundial had an estimated economic impact of €13.4bn on the nation with a loss of €670m.

Before the commencement of the tournament in Brazil, it was surrounded by controversy due to the charges of corruption and accusations of money spent by the nation’s government in hosting the World Cup.

According to former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, a sum of €100m World Cup Legacy Fund aimed at sports facilities, youth and women’s football, medical and health projects was returned to Brazil to cater for all of the said projects after the conclusion of the Mundial.

Qatar – (2022, €229BN)

Qatar, one of the famous Arabian nations known for its hospitality and tourist landmarks will be the host of the most expensive FIFA World Cup ever.

In 2008, Qatar announced its national vision project which is aimed at building the country into an advanced society, capable of sustaining its development and providing a high standard for its people.

As such, one of the main foundations for the future is a sport that gives birth to the hosting of Qatar 2022, not forgetting hosting of the Mundial will take a fortune from the coffers of the country.

However, the money spent would be part of the country’s broader 2030 plan in building innovative hubs which include sophisticated underground transportation, airports, and stadiums.

FAQ

What is the most expensive World Cup?

Qatar 2022

If you add up the total costs, taking into account not only the cost of building new stadiums and renovating existing ones but also all the money spent on infrastructure, this year’s World Cup in Qatar is by far the most expensive of all time.

Is Qatar the most expensive World Cup?

Yes, with over €229BN spent.

How much did the 2022 World Cup cost?

$220 billion

For the first time in the tournament’s history, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will take place in the Middle East. With a $220 billion market value, this year’s World Cup will be the most expensive FIFA competition ever, about 20 times more than what Russia spent in 2018.

How much does the world Cup trophy cost?

$20 million

The 14.5-inch, 13.6-pound ornament of 18-karat gold and the semi-precious malachite trophy has a value of $20 million.

Which is the most expensive cup in Europe?

The Serie A trophy is the most expensive league trophy in Europe.

Can you drink beer at World Cup 2022?

FIFA has confirmed that fans with tickets would be able to access alcohol inside the stadium’s perimeter both before and after games. Although alcohol will be available in hospitality boxes, only non-alcoholic beer, and soft drinks will be sold inside the stadium bowl.

Can you drink alcohol during Qatar World Cup?

Alcohol is available only at licensed hotel restaurants and bars, and expatriates living in Qatar can obtain alcohol on a permit system.

How did Qatar win the World Cup bid?

With support from all of the Arab League’s members, Qatar pitched its hosting of the competition as a way to represent the Arab world. Furthermore, they marketed their campaign as a chance to close the gap between the Arab World and the West.

Does World Cup Winners Keep the trophy ?

Nope!

As per FIFA rules, the trophy cannot be won outright anymore, unlike its predecessor; instead, the tournament champions are given a bronze replica that is gold-plated.

Is the world Cup made of real gold?

Absolutely!

The weight and dimensions of the current World Cup trophy are 6.175kg and 36.8cm by 12.5cm. It is made of 18 karat solid gold (750 fineness). This indicates that 4,927 grams of it are made entirely of gold. A particularly stunning gemstone, green malachite, is used to embellish the base.