2026 World Cup

On average, the races broadcast on Rai 1 attracted 4.6 million viewers. Revenue has exceeded 50 million. The hydration breaks are racking up figures on a par with Sanremo

A TV audience of two billion viewers is expected for tonight’s World Cup final

The Iberian country is one of the most dynamic in the Eurozone, whilst Buenos Aires is on a clear upward trend after years of deep crisis

Spain v Argentina: a grand final between two growing economies

FIFA’s Chief Business Officer, Romy Gai, takes stock of the 2026 World Cup, which generated 11.5 billion in revenue, and explains how it has transformed the North American market and the business model for major events

“It was a historic World Cup; football will never be the same again”

US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed their great satisfaction with the 2026 World Cup whilst speaking together at a press conference in New York

Trump and Infantino: mutual praise for the World Cup – the American dream

A recent study shows that winning the World Cup generates temporary economic growth, mainly through exports, but the impact varies depending on the economic and political conditions of the countries concerned

The impact of the World Cup on GDP and exports: who comes out on top – Argentina or Spain?

FIFA is working on a comprehensive overhaul of the transfer system, which is due to come into force on 1 January 2027

Agents, the EU Court backs FIFA: green light for restrictions on commissions and agency agreements

The share price has fallen by 33 per cent since the start of the year. Argentina’s victory dashed the giant’s hopes of sponsoring the world champions

Nike shares fall on Wall Street as the brand exits the World Cup alongside England

The break between halves in the match on 19 July could last well beyond the usual 15 minutes, with a half-time show featuring a host of distinguished guests

There’ll be a half-hour interval, Super Bowl-style, before the grand final

The semi-final between France and Spain, broadcast during prime time on Rai 1, attracted an average audience of 9,017,000 and a share of 49.4 per cent.

Rai: over 50 million in advertising revenue raised for the World Cup

From stadium attendance to television viewing figures, from digital engagement to the economic and social impact, the group stage of the North American tournament has set an impressive series of records.

A World Cup of records: unprecedented figures, crowds and spectacle

At the New York New Jersey Stadium, on Sunday 19 July, ahead of the final, a spectacular closing ceremony has been planned to celebrate the journey of the 48 national teams

Closing ceremony directed by Marco Balich: Laura Pausini, Tom Cruise and a global show

France, Spain, England and Argentina are preparing to face each other in the World Cup semi-finals, but the role of the capitals of these four countries in football is very different

Paris, Madrid, London and Buenos Aires: football in the major capitals of the World Cup

Following the crisis of the 1990s, France has built an unrivalled football ecosystem, and Paris has become the Silicon Valley of football. On 14 July, they face Spain in their third consecutive World Cup final

And so France turned its failures into the strongest national football team in the world

The Mamelodi Sundowns and South Africa international midfielder, who had just returned from the World Cup, was found dead on the morning of Saturday 11 July at the age of 25. An investigation has been launched

Jayden Adams found dead aged 25: South Africa and African football in shock

Even in the quarter-finals of the North American World Cup, events on the pitch, disputes over independence and socio-economic tensions between countries are intertwined in an increasingly complex landscape of sports diplomacy 

When football is a dance between historical, political and cultural rivalries 

The match in Boston reflects a changed world: from sporting success to Morocco’s new strategic position and France’s domestic challenges

France v Morocco, four years on: football reflects the new global balance of power

In a decision likely to spark controversy, the International Olympic Committee has provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, which was imposed in 2023 following the invasion of Ukraine. Protests from Kyiv

The IOC reopens the door to Moscow, caught between Olympic pragmatism and the return of geopolitics in sport

Adidas, Nike and Puma kit 77 per cent of the teams, but there are huge differences in the financial value of the contracts. Brazil, Germany, the US and France top the list.

Technical sponsors have provided over 500 million dollars to the 48 teams in the World Cup

In Brazil, Cazè TV, a YouTube channel, has acquired the rights to broadcast all 104 World Cup matches live

From the TV monopoly to participatory streaming: the ‘Cazé revolution’ in Brazil

Record figures for prize money for national teams (871 million) and the Club Benefits Programme for the clubs to which the players belong (355 million)

FIFA is distributing $1.2 billion amongst national teams and the club sector

Record figures for the group stage. The attendance rate is close to 100 per cent, with an average of over 64,000 spectators per match. Online, there were 17 billion impressions and 11 billion video views

The World Cup’s mega-business: from 4.6 million spectators in the stadiums to 17 billion impressions

The average number of goals scored in the group stage has never been so high in the last thirty years. A higher total was only achieved at the other World Cup held in the US in ’94

It’s the world championship of ‘American’ show business: an average of three goals per match  

More than four years after the invasion of Ukraine, a Russian national team will be able to take part in the new Under-15 Festival, scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan from 22 to 31 October

FIFA readmits Russia to youth football (for now)

North American arenas are complex industrial facilities, property assets, technology hubs and revenue generators

From SoFi Stadium to the Azteca, the five most iconic stadiums of the 2026 World Cup

Football shows that diversity and national pride can coexist successfully

Ethnic integration and national pride can go hand in hand (just look at the World Cup!)

In the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for 7 July, the USA and Iran could face each other in a clash where football and armed conflict intersect – a scenario that has occurred on several occasions throughout history

The US and Iran (and beyond): when football becomes the crossroads between war and peace

Between 2016 and 2026, investments were made through the Forward Programme, primarily to support grassroots football in the poorest countries 

FIFA has invested 5 billion over the last 10 years in the development of global football

Alongside the matches in the stadiums, FIFA has organised fan zones in 13 host cities across the US, Canada and Mexico, with simultaneous events combining sport, music and local culture

Two million visitors in 14 days at the FIFA Fan Festivals

The federation is protesting against the safety regulations imposed by the US, which have resulted in a forced retreat to Mexico and whirlwind trips for the matches

Iran lodges a complaint with FIFA against the restrictions imposed on the team 

Over 54 million viewers watched the opening matches involving the United States, Canada and Mexico on TV, and more than a million fans have already enjoyed the experience in the stadiums

The impact of the World Cup on global audiences and sports broadcasting

The World Cup qualification campaign presents an opportunity that the Kingdom intends to capitalise on to promote its seven UNESCO sites and its natural beauty, from the Red Sea to the deserts

Jordan is also showcasing its UNESCO World Heritage sites

The new 48-team format and Gianni Infantino’s leadership of FIFA have reduced the political influence of UEFA and South America

In the globalised world of football, Europe is becoming increasingly marginalised 

Today in Mexico City, the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa

The World Cup of Records: an 11.5 billion FIFA-branded machine

From traditional broadcasters to streaming, the tournament is testing the new media ecosystem

The 5-billion-pound game being played out on TV

Dal Var con il fuorigioco in 3D alle Bodycam. Pierluigi Collina ci ha spiegato le innovazioni introdotte da Lenovo

From Var with 3D offside to Bodycam. Pierluigi Collina explained the innovations introduced by Lenovo

This year's World Cup has never been more technological

The platform will have all the 104 matches and 69 exclusively. Dazn Italia CEO Stefano Azzi: 'Important step'. In addition to the current distribution partners Tim and Amazon, new alliances are expected to push the World Cup in the app

Dazn, World Cup test to push subscriber numbers and loyalty

The threat is aimed at It infrastructures and ticket platforms. The solutions: predictive approach with AI and awareness

The shadow of hacker attacks and bot fraud on the World Cup

The World Cup will be the first global sporting event designed as an integrated system of sensitive data, insight and decision support

World Cup, how artificial intelligence will govern the field and spectators

The draw for the 12 rounds of the World Cup was made in Washington. The Azzurri, if they make it through the playoffs in March, are expected to face Canada, Qatar and Switzerland

World Cup 2026, the draws: for Italia an (eventual) easy round

The small Caribbean country drew against Jamaica, securing a place in the final stages of the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada

The island of Curaçao qualifies for the World Cup: it is the smallest national team ever to do so

Dentro il mondiale di calcio nordamericano

Inside the North American Football World Cup

I mondiali tra economia e geopolitica