The 2026 FIFA World Cup is already rewriting the record books. Spread across 16 cities in three countries, with an expanded 48-team format and a final at MetLife – temporarily rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium – this is the biggest sporting event in history. Here is a look at some of the most striking figures from the tournament so far.

A Tournament on an Unprecedented Scale

The expanded format means 32 nations reached the knockout stage – double the number from any previous World Cup. That structural change has consequences across the board, from broadcasting revenues to betting volumes, ticket prices to tax bills.

The numbers attached to this tournament are not just big. Some of them are almost incomprehensible.

The Goalscoring Records Being Rewritten

Lionel Messi entered this tournament needing just four goals to surpass Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16. He broke it in the opening game with a hat trick, and has since extended his tally to 19 goals across his World Cup career.

What makes that figure even more remarkable:

• Messi scored just six goals in his first 19 World Cup matches
• He has scored 13 goals in his last ten World Cup appearances
• He is 39 years old

Kylian Mbappé is not far behind. At 27, he already has 18 World Cup goals from 18 games – and is the current joint leader at this tournament with six goals, alongside Messi. The Golden Boot race is effectively a two-horse contest, with Norway’s Erling Haaland one goal back on five.

The Money Behind the Spectacle

FIFA’s Financial Machine

FIFA expects to generate $13 billion in revenue across the four-year cycle ending with this World Cup. To put that in context, the equivalent figure for the 2022 Qatar cycle was $7.6 billion. The 2024 Paris Olympics, for reference, generated $4.4 billion in commercial revenue across the entire year.

Broadcasting rights alone are projected to bring in $3.9 billion. Hospitality and ticket sales account for a further $3 billion.

What Winning Is Worth

• The World Cup winners will receive $50 million in prize money
• Every team that made the knockout stage is guaranteed at least $11 million
• Even teams eliminated in the group stage receive $10 million each
• The total prize pot is $871 million – almost double the $440 million on offer in Qatar

The Cost of a Ticket

Premium tickets to the final at New York New Jersey Stadium carried a face value of $32,970 when released in May – triple the cost of comparable seats released earlier. On the secondary market, one seller listed four seats in Section 124 for $2.3 million each. The cheapest resale tickets for the final are now approaching $11,000.

For fans making the trip to New Jersey, the costs do not stop there:

• Car parking in Los Angeles: reportedly up to $300 per match
• Beer at some venues: $20 or more
• Round-trip train from Penn Station to the stadium: $98
• A personal shoutout on the stadium big screen: $79 (plus tax)

Broadcasting and Betting Numbers That Demand Attention

The USA’s opening match against Paraguay drew 18 million viewers on Fox – a record for an English-language American broadcast of a men’s football match. Telemundo and Peacock pulled a further 13 million for Mexico vs South Africa.

Across the first three weeks of the tournament, Fox and Telemundo were averaging a combined 11.4 million viewers per match. That is more than double the equivalent figures from 2022.

On the betting side, the numbers are extraordinary even by the standards of a major tournament:

• Kalshi and Polymarket recorded $5.4 billion in World Cup betting volume in the first week alone
• Kalshi’s $2.9 billion that week exceeded the trading volume generated by March Madness and the Champions League combined
• Total betting volume on Kalshi throughout the tournament has now reached $14.6 billion

Security, Drones and a Temporary Jail

The logistical operation behind this World Cup is staggering. FEMA distributed $221 million to host cities specifically to counter drone threats. In the first two weeks, TSA agents seized more than 300 drones near venues. On match days, drones are banned within three nautical miles of stadiums, with criminal charges and fines of up to $100,000 for violations.

A further $625 million was allocated to broader security and cybersecurity preparations.

Kansas City set aside $25.8 million in taxpayer money for a temporary jail to manage disorderly visitors. It was not completed in time for the tournament.

The Small Nation Making History

Cape Verde – with a population of approximately 500,000 – became the smallest nation by population ever to reach the knockout stage of a World Cup. They navigated group-stage draws against Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uruguay to get there.

The Television Deal That Pays for Itself in Ad Breaks

Fox reportedly paid $485 million for the US broadcasting rights to this tournament. The two three-minute hydration breaks built into each game — ostensibly for player welfare in summer heat – are expected to generate upwards of $250 million in commercial revenue from 30-second spots alone. Those spots are reportedly selling for between $200,000 and $750,000 each.

The hydration breaks across all 104 matches represent 624 minutes of premium advertising time. Fox’s rights deal may effectively pay for itself before a ball is kicked in the final.