World Cup generated revenues have increased by 66% over past decade. World Cup generated revenues have increased by 66% over the past decade. The World Cup organised in 2002 in South Korea and Japan generated $1.94 billion. This then increased to $2.63 billion in Germany in 2006 and $4.19 billion in South Africa in 2010. This figure reached $5.7 billion at the most recent World Cup last year in Brazil. Unsurprisingly, it is the television coverage and marketing rights paid by the sponsors that contributed most to the Federation of International Football (FIFA) coffers. At the Brazilian World Cup, television companies from the whole world paid out a total of $2.4 billion and 22 brand partnerships spent $1.58 billion. Ticket sales only accounted for $724 million of income. The cost of organising these events also generated huge financial flows for the host countries, with considerable challenges for all the different economic operators concerned. In 2018, Russia has estimated its investment at €21 billion. In Qatar in 2022 (if the selection of this country does not change, given the enormous corruption scandal at FIFA and continued shock waves), estimates stand at no less than €146 billion. In comparison, the organisation of the World Cup in 1998 in France cost just €360 million. (Isabelle Lamberty)