Ranking of most expensive FIFA World Cups in football history
The FIFA World Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, and hosting it gives the host nation a great deal of pressure and enthusiasm.Â
The entire world is captivated by this sporting event. Over the years, the quality of the World Cup has steadily risen. Every World Cup introduces something new, whether in terms of game quality or technologies.
In recent years, nations such as Qatar, Russia, and South Africa have devoted significant time and resources to ensuring that their hosting events are the finest ever.
The fact that nations are willing to spend billions more than their GDP on facilities to obtain the hosting rights demonstrates that holding the World Cup is the pinnacle of national pride.
Let’s examine the most expensive World Cups in football history thus far.
8. USA (1994)- €0.5 billion
The United States may not be a football powerhouse, but they staged one of the most successful editions in 1994.
The average attendance for the 1994 World Cup was 63,991, which is the highest in World Cup history. The Brazilians defeated the strong Italians at the Rose Bowl in California to win that World Cup.
During the 1990s, the United States spent roughly €500 million on the World Cup, which was a significant amount. After undergoing major repairs prior to the World Cup, nine sites were selected. The United States will again serve as host in 2026, striving to create another masterpiece.
7. France (1998)- €2.4 billion
In 1998, as hosts of the World Cup, France faced intense pressure after the United States set the bar so high in 1994. In addition, the 1998 World Cup increased the number of competing nations from 24 to 32.
France chose ten towns for the major event and spent a total of €2.4 billion on facilities. France triumphed in that World Cup, and home supporters played a crucial role in their success. The average attendance at World Cup matches in 1994 was 43,511.
6. South Africa (2010)- €3.7 billion
The 2010 World Cup was the first to be hosted on the African continent, making it a historic event.
Although there were media leaks previous to the competition alleging that FIFA accepted bribes to award the World Cup to South Africa instead of more deserving footballing nations like Morocco, the host nation exceeded all expectations.
For the event, several new stadiums were constructed, and historic stadiums like Soccer City were substantially restored. Ten venues in nine cities were selected, with Johannesburg hosting the final. The 2010 World Cup remains one of the most iconic tournaments, with the African culture feel and the World Cup anthem being popular among fans.
5. Germany (2006)- €4.5 billion Â
Next on the list was the 2006 World Cup, which Germany hosted. It was Germany’s second time hosting the tournament, but it did not prevent them from spending lavishly. Despite having some of the top stadiums in the world, they spent over €4.5 billion preparing for the World Cup.
The World Cup was a tremendous success, and Germany’s exceptional hospitality was commended. The average number of attendees at the event was 52,491.
4. Korea and Japan (2002)- €7.3 billion
The 2002 World Cup was one of the most anticipated and unexpected tournaments in World Cup history.
It was a competition in which underdogs such as Turkey and South Korea finished third and fourth, respectively, against the odds.
In addition, this was the first time the tournament was held in Asia, and both Korea and Japan surpassed expectations.
During the World Cup, they spent €7.3 billion and totally revamped their country’s sporting infrastructure. In addition, the competition was well attended, with 2,705,198 individuals in attendance.
3. Russia (2018)- €12 billion
Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup, the most recent edition of the tournament. The French national team won the event, and it was the most prestigious World Cup in history.
Due to bombing threats from terrorist organizations such as ISIS, the World Cup received a great deal of attention even before it began.
The World Cup completed without incident and without such an issue. Russia invested over €12 billion for the World Cup. To prepare for the tournament, they constructed several high-tech stadiums and imported foreign turf.
2. Brazil (2014)- €15.6 billion
The 2014 World Cup is one of the most significant in football history, as it saw the introduction of technology to the tournament. This tournament marked the introduction of goal-line technology and anti-doping tests by FIFA.
Brazil spent $15.6 billion on the World Cup and renovated several of the most renowned venues. The investment was made with the 2016 Olympics in Rio in mind, thus it served a dual purpose.
1. Qatar (2022)- €229 billion
There is still some time until the 2022 World Cup begins, but all related information is already generating considerable excitement throughout the globe. Regarding costs, the 22nd World Cup is the most expensive. Qatar reportedly spent a record €229 billion on preparations.
The entire nation has been renovated with brand-new stadiums, hotels, and training facilities. The World Cup will be held in eight venues, all of which have been newly constructed using imported cutting-edge equipment. Clearly, Qatar has worked diligently for this World Cup, as indicated by the statistical disparity between it and previous tournaments.
Ranking of most expensive FIFA World Cups in football history
