WORLD CUP 2026

Yesterday saw the start of the 2026 World Cup. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be the largest ever with 48 countries competing. The new format will feature 12 groups of four teams and will increase the total number of matches from 64 to 104.

Some of the World’s top players will participate in the event and it is estimated the total value of football talent on display will exceed $18 billion.

While the attraction of the World Cup as a sporting spectacle is clear, it is also a massive commercial event. It is estimated that 6 billion people will engage with the tournament over the next few weeks. The financial impact is therefore huge, and Bank of America estimates that the boost to global GDP will be as large as $41 billion.

Source: Bank of America, Euro News, Goodbody.