While the 2022 World Cup is not yet over, the International Football Federation is already anticipating record revenues of eleven billion dollars over its next four-year cycle, in particular due to the expansion to 48 teams of the World Cup-2026.

This was announced by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino on Friday, December 16.

The latter notably promised to return to the controversial idea of ​​​​organizing sixteen groups of three teams (against eight groups of four teams currently).

Meeting on Friday in Doha, on the sidelines of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the FIFA Council adopted a sharply increased budget of eleven billion dollars in revenue (or 10.3 million euros) for its next 2023 cycle. -2026.

For comparison, it is 7.5 billion dollars (7.2 billion euros) over the current cycle with a World Cup with 32 selections.

"Revenues will go up"

Reform desired in 2017 by Gianni Infantino, the 48-team World Cup organized in 2026 in Canada, the United States and Mexico should significantly increase the number of matches played during the tournament, for the time being capped at 64 matches, and therefore the television revenues of the most prestigious of competitions.

For the current cycle, the figure of 7.5 billion dollars, already unveiled on November 20, exceeds the initial estimate by one billion, which is "quite remarkable" in a period of pandemic, judged Gianni Infantino.

"We are convinced that the impact (of the World Cup-2026) will be enormous, as it has been here (in Qatar), with three major countries, 48 ​​teams, more matches...", he said. declared during a press conference organized before the closing of the Mondial-2022, Sunday.

"Revenues will increase in terms of broadcasting, sponsors, hospitality. We will play in huge stadiums usually dedicated to American football, with capacities of 80,000 to 90,000 seats," he added, saying he expected the influx of 5.5 million supporters.

"Discussing the format again"

The Italian-Swiss leader has also promised to re-examine the initially mentioned format of sixteen groups of three teams, which left the risk of an implicit agreement between two teams for their third pool match.

If the option of twelve groups of four were chosen, with two qualified per group as well as the eight best thirds, this would automatically increase the number of matches.

"Here (in Qatar), the groups of four have been absolutely amazing until the last minute of every game. We have to reconsider that, at least re-discuss the format, if it's sixteen groups of three, or twelve groups of four. ... It will be on the agenda for the next few weeks,” he said.

With AFP

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