The 2026 FIFA World Cup didn’t just deliver record-breaking soccer — it delivered a record-breaking payday. Bank of America estimates the tournament generated roughly $40 billion globally, with the United States accounting for about half of that total.
New York and New Jersey Cash In
The New York-New Jersey region, which hosted the championship match between Spain and Argentina, saw an outsized share of the windfall. A study from the host committee found the group stage alone drove $1.2 billion in direct economic impact for the area, according to Bloomberg. Resale prices for the final reportedly averaged around $12,500 per ticket, surpassing recent Super Bowl resale figures. The tournament opener between Brazil and Morocco also set MetLife Stadium’s food-and-beverage sales record for any event since the 2014 Super Bowl. Even the event’s $20 shuttle service proved lucrative, selling more than 69,000 rides for a total of $1.4 million.
A Souvenir That’s Rubbing Some the Wrong Way
FIFA found an unconventional new revenue stream: selling small pieces of the actual MetLife Stadium turf as $450 souvenirs, alongside a $3,000 crystal-cut replica of the World Cup trophy. Not everyone is celebrating the creativity. New Jersey state representative Michael Inganamort pushed back on the organization profiting from carving up the region’s own stadium field, bluntly telling FIFA to get off the state’s turf.
Between soaring ticket resale prices, blockbuster concession sales, and now literal chunks of the playing field turned into merchandise, the World Cup proved just how many ways a mega-event can turn a profit — even if not every local official is thrilled about how it’s being done.