Does FIFA World Cup Give Money to Host Country?

So, does FIFA really give money to the host country? The answer is "yes." Ticket sales and television rights are the main sources of money for the World Cup. The host country gets no share of these profits, which belongs to FIFA. But the costs of the World Cup are passed onto the taxpayers. In Brazil and South Africa, protests were a major cause for concern, especially when small local vendors were evicted from their stalls.

The World Cup prize fund for the 2014 World Cup was $358 million, with each participating nation getting $8 million. In addition, each participating team received performance-based bonus payments that increase with performance. Each squad received around $5 million, but that figure increased to more than $10 million for the winning team. That means England is the biggest winner, but they're not even considered favorites. Nevertheless, if they do win, they'll benefit immensely.

Although the FIFA World Cup only occurs every few years, FIFA demands massive tax exemptions from association partners. Germany, South Africa, and Brazil, for example, offered $272 million in tax exemptions for the 2010 World Cup. In addition, FIFA corporate partners get exemptions from sales and income taxes. Meanwhile, in the US, Cincinnati officials have pledged $10m to upgrade the soccer field at Paul Brown Stadium, and the local government is working to raise another $35 to $50 million for this purpose.

When a country is awarded a World Cup, it must fulfill a number of strict criteria in order to get the prize. For example, it has to build high-quality stadiums, provide more accommodations for players, and set up additional temporary housing for tournament participants. These costs must be borne by the host nation, and this can translate into a large cost to the country. And that's just the beginning.