The 2026 World Cup: Key Figures and Records to Beat

Photo: A man walks near the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour in Houston, Texas. The 2026 World Cup will be the first co-hosted by three countries. EFE/Carlos Ramírez

Before the ball rolls on the field, the 2026 World Cup has mobilized billions in investments that host countries, sponsors, and the tournament organization (FIFA) aim to recover many times over, although expectations are not always met.

This time, estimates suggest that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will break records because it is the first time it will be played in three countries (United States, Mexico, and Canada) and because there is a high number of teams competing: 48.

The quantitative leap will have a significant economic impact. The ‘FIFA World Cup 2026 Socioeconomic Impact Analysis,’ a report prepared by the organization governing world football and the consulting firm OpenEconomics, estimates that the tournament will generate a total economic impact of $80.1 billion and contribute $40.9 billion to the global GDP.

62% of the benefits will come from the tourism sector; 32% from sports, and 6% from entertainment.

Additionally, 823,000 full-time jobs will be created worldwide. Tax revenue, both direct and indirect, is expected to reach around $9.4 billion, according to the FIFA and OpenEconomics report.

More astonishing figures from one of the world’s biggest spectacles:

FIFA expects about 6.5 million people to attend across the three host countries. Therefore, the 2026 World Cup aims to break the record of 3.5 million attendees set in 1994, which was hosted solely by the United States.
The 2026 World Cup will be held at 16 official venues spread across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the highest number in the tournament’s history. These 16 stadiums are double the number of venues used in Qatar 2022 and four more than in Russia 2018.
It will be the first time that 48 teams compete, instead of 32. They will also play a record number of matches, totaling 104, forty more than in the previous format. The last expansion of participants was at the 1998 France World Cup, when the number increased from 24 to 32 teams.
The national teams will be divided into 12 groups of four.
FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests during the random draw sales phase. This record demand averages about fifteen million requests daily.
the United States will invest $115 million in anti-drone technology to enhance security for the 2026 World Cup.
Mexico City’s Chamber of Commerce estimates that the World Cup will generate benefits of $4.5 billion and expects the Mexican capital to host two million tourists related to the tournament.
The competition will last 39 days, from June 11 to July 19. This extended schedule is due to the new format with 48 teams, requiring more days to accommodate the group stage and expanded knockout rounds.
With 94,000 seats, Dallas’s AT&T Stadium will be the largest venue of the 2026 World Cup.
Mexico City will have a special prominence. It will be the first city to host matches in three different editions (1970, 1986, and 2026) and will also surpass the record of 23 World Cup matches hosted, a record it shares with Doha (Qatar). In 2026, the iconic Azteca Stadium will host five matches, including the opening game.
The total expenditure for organizing the 2026 World Cup amounts to $13.9 billion, according to FIFA.
The football tournament will generate revenue for Canada of 3.8 billion Canadian dollars (approximately $2.68 billion USD or €2.55 billion), according to Deloitte. This means that for every Canadian dollar spent on organization or by visitors, there is an expected return of $1.09 to the GDP, and each match in Canada will generate about 155 million Canadian dollars for the GDP.
The World Cup will create 24,100 jobs in Canada during the event. Toronto estimates that hosting the six matches will cost about 380 million Canadian dollars, about 80 million more than initially planned in 2022. About one-third of this budget will be allocated to police and security.
With more teams, television rights revenue will increase, although specific figures are not yet known.
The prize money pool will total $871 million, double that of the Qatar World Cup. The champion will receive $50 million.