How FIFA Picks World Cup Host Cities | Sports City

Summary

Bloomberg's Randall Williams explains the intense process FIFA uses to select World Cup host cities, the strict stadium requirements, and the financial dynamics: FIFA keeps all ticket and sponsorship revenue while host cities bear stadium upgrade costs but receive tourism-driven economic impact and global exposure.

• FIFA requires stadium capacity of 40,000 for matches and 80,000 for the final, and mandatorily replaces artificial turf with natural grass.
• The clean slate policy strips stadiums of all commercial identity; e.g., AT&T Stadium becomes Dallas Stadium.
• Host cities and stadiums receive zero revenue from ticket sales or sponsorships; FIFA collects all.
• FIFA's World Cup revenue is projected at $10.9 billion, a 56% increase from the last tournament.
• Host cities expect $300 million to $1 billion in economic impact from tourism, hotels, restaurants, and transportation.
• The 2026 World Cup is spread across 16 cities in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
• Cities compete for hosting rights for global exposure and prestige rather than direct event revenue.