For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA projects to raise around US$3.92 billion from broadcasting rights alone
The influence of the media on world football is immense, and FIFA measures this mainly by the values of the World Cup broadcasting rights.
These rights, combined with a global audience, digital engagement, sponsorships and merchandise sales, reveal the commercial power of each region.
For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA projects to raise around US$3.92 billion from broadcasting rights alone — a record that reflects the explosive growth of the sport.
This revenue distribution explains a lot, including the allocation of places in the World Cup (16 for Europe in 2026) and FIFA’s strategy: maximizing profits in the richest regions while expanding football in emerging markets.
Europe remains the biggest football market, with broadcast rights valued at around US$1.45 billion for 2026 (plus additional amounts from smaller countries).
The richest leagues in the world are in Europe, with high audiences in populous nations with high purchasing power. Not surprisingly, Uefat has 16 direct places in the 2026 World Cup — the largest share, justified by the immense commercial value that European teams generate for FIFA.
North and Central America: Driven by the hosts, with Canada, Mexico and the USA as headquarters, this region stands out.
The largest individual contract is in the United States: FOX Sports and Telemundo pay around US$1.25 billion in total.
Viewership is on the rise, driven by the growth of football (MLS expanding) and a population of more than 50 million immigrants from football countries.
Regional rights are worth around US$1 billion.
Asia has explosive growth. Asia is one of the most promising markets, with rights estimated at more than US$720 million (including Oceania in some packages).
Massive populations generate billions of views and high-speed digital engagement. Countries like China, India and Japan are driving this boom.
South America and its Historical Passion.
Here, the passion for football is unparalleled, with Brazil and Argentina at the top of engagement per match. Broadcasting rights are significant but smaller in total volume compared to Europe, North America and Asia.
Conmebol has 6 direct vacancies, reflecting tradition and commercial potential.
Africa has rising potential. The audience is growing rapidly, especially among young people and those experiencing rapid urbanization. However, broadcast rights are smaller (about US$200 million combined with Middle East in some data), limited by infrastructure. CAF gains 9 places, a sign of FIFA’s investment in the continent.
Oceania with Minor Impact. With a small population, the region has the lowest value in broadcasting rights. For the first time, it guarantees 1 direct place in the 2026 World Cup. Conclusion: with FIFA’s strategy, which seeks to balance maximum revenue in rich regions (Europe, North America, Asia) with expansion in emerging markets (Africa, Asia, South America). The almost US$4 billion in broadcasting rights for 2026 finance the sport globally, rewarding those who generate the most commercial value. Football continues to grow, and the media is the engine of it all.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
