Finance of Football

Is the 2026 FIFA World Cup already one of the best tournaments ever? From Cabo Verde’s incredible Cinderella story to Norway shocking Brazil, this World Cup has already delivered drama, upsets, global stars, late winners, penalty shootouts and some of the best fan moments in recent memory. But off the pitch, the tournament has been just as intense. In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael a...

Why are World Cup tickets so expensive — and why are fans still paying? With the 2026 FIFA World Cup already delivering packed stadiums, record demand and eye-watering resale prices, FIFA’s ticketing strategy is under the spotlight. In this episode of Finance of Football, Asli Pelit is joined by Jim McCarthy, founder of Impresario Strategic Growth Services and co-founder and former CEO of Goldstar...

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway across the United States, Canada and Mexico, there’s no better time to revisit one of the most important conversations we've ever had on Finance of Football. Long before MLS, packed soccer-specific stadiums, billion-dollar club valuations, and the arrival of global stars like David Beckham and Lionel Messi, there was Alan Rothenberg. As CEO of the 1994 FIFA Wo...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here — and the USMNT has already made a statement. In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael is joined by Jozy Altidore, one of the top goal scorers in U.S. soccer history, to break down the pressure, opportunity and expectation around the U.S. men’s national team at a home World Cup. After a strong opening performance from the USA, Jozy explains why he believes th...

Why are 2026 World Cup tickets so expensive? With the biggest World Cup in history just days away, FIFA is facing growing criticism over ticket prices, dynamic pricing, seat transparency and the overall fan experience. In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli break down FIFA’s controversial decision to introduce dynamic ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup — the first time this mo...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost here — and some of the biggest brands in America are racing to be part of soccer’s biggest moment. In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli look at The Home Depot’s growing investment in the beautiful game, from Arthur Blank’s role in building Atlanta United to the company’s long-running partnerships with MLS, the Mexican national team and U.S. Soc...

In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. England enters the tournament with one of the most valuable squads in world football, the power of the Premier League behind it, and the pressure of a nation still waiting for football to truly come home. With stars like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Harry...

In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down Group K at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: DR Congo, Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia. DR Congo returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, carrying one of the strongest emotional and financial stories of the expanded tournament. As the poorest country in the 2026 World Cup by GDP per capita, its guaranteed FIFA payout of at least $12.5...

The Championship playoff final is often called the richest match in football. This year, Hull City beat Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium to win promotion to the Premier League — and unlock roughly $275 million in broadcast and commercial revenue over the next three seasons. In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli break down why promotion to the Premier League is about far more tha...

 In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan — four nations with very different football identities, but major financial, cultural and commercial stakes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina enters Group J as the defending World Cup champion and one of the most commercially powerful national teams in football. After Lionel Messi lifted the tr...

In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway — four nations with very different football stories, but huge financial, cultural and commercial stakes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Iraq arrives with one of the most emotional stories of the tournament. After 40 years away from the World Cup, the Lions of Mesopotamia are finally back on the biggest stage. Thei...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being billed as the biggest sporting event in history. 48 nations. 104 matches. 16 cities. 3 countries. 5 million fans. $80.1 billion in gross output. $11 billion in revenue for FIFA. But there is another number behind the tournament: an estimated 9 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent . In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli break down the environ...

In this episode of Nations & Numbers , we break down Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay — four nations with very different football identities, but huge financial, cultural and commercial stakes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spain enters the tournament as one of the favorites, hoping to prove that its golden era was not a one-time miracle. From 2008 to 2012, Spain dominated internationa...

In this episode of Nations & Numbers , we break down Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand — four nations with very different football histories, but huge financial, cultural and political stakes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Belgium enters the tournament at a turning point. After finishing third in 2018 and then crashing out in the group stage in Qatar, this World Cup could mark the end of one e...

A sweaty football shirt used to be just a piece of kit. Now it can be a luxury asset. In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli explore the booming business of match-worn football shirts — a market where sweat, mud, blood and emotion can turn a jersey into a highly valuable collector’s item. The conversation starts with Diego Maradona’s blue Argentina jersey from the infamous “Hand...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup isn’t just a tournament. It’s the biggest sporting event in history. 48 nations. 104 matches. 39 days. $80.1B in gross output. $11B in revenue. 5M attendees. 6B viewers worldwide. Finance of Football is breaking down the stories, stakes and numbers behind the tournament — in the run-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and throughout the tournament itself. From the main show to ou...

In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down the Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and Sweden — four nations with very different football identities, but major financial, cultural and commercial stakes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Netherlands enters the tournament still chasing its first-ever World Cup title despite decades of influence on the modern game through Total Football and legends...

In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down Germany, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire and Ecuador — four nations at completely different stages of their football journeys, all with massive financial, cultural and commercial stakes at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Germany enters this tournament at the end of an iconic era. After decades of partnership and four men’s World Cup titles together, the DFB...

 Gianni Infantino has turned FIFA into one of the most powerful financial machines in global sport. Love him or hate him, since becoming FIFA president in 2016, Infantino has overseen record growth for world football’s governing body. After the Qatar World Cup, FIFA revenue rose to $7.5 billion, reserves climbed from roughly $1 billion to nearly $4 billion, and the 2026 World Cup cycle is exp...

In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down the United States, Paraguay, Australia and Turkey — four nations with very different stories, but massive upside on and off the pitch. The United States sits at the center of it all. As co-host of what’s expected to be the biggest sporting event in history, the tournament could generate over $30.5 billion in economic output, create 185,000 jo...

In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down Brazil, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland — four nations with completely different motivations, but everything to gain. Brazil enters as the benchmark. Five-time champions, a $6.6 billion player export machine, and a fanbase that travels in force — with billions spent abroad. With the World Cup in North America, their cultural and economic impact c...

The captain speaks. In this special episode of Finance of Football , we sit down with **Tyler Adams — captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team — just weeks before the biggest 2026 FIFA World Cup in history. From the pressure of leading a nation on home soil… to building wealth off the pitch… to shaping the future of soccer in America… this is one of our biggest conversations yet. Tyler opens up on:...

What is really at stake in Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down the financial, cultural and commercial forces shaping Canada, Qatar, Switzerland and Bosnia & Herzegovina as the tournament approaches. Canada enters as a co-host — and potentially one of the biggest winners of the entire World Cup. With matches in Toronto and Vancouver, a 42%...

What is really at stake in Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup? In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down the financial, cultural and commercial stakes behind Mexico, South Korea, South Africa and Czechia as the biggest World Cup in history gets closer. Mexico could be one of the biggest winners of the entire tournament. With the opening match at Estadio Azteca, massive support on bot...

Five hundred dollar tickets are one thing. But what happens when it costs $150 just to get to the stadium? In this episode, Michael and Asli break down the transportation chaos surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup. MetLife Stadium fans could face $150 train tickets from Manhattan, $225 parking near the stadium, and expensive shuttle buses just to attend a match. Meanwhile, New Jersey officials are...