FIFA WORLD CUP BY THE NUMBERS

The 2022 FIFA World Cup, currently under way in Qatar, is on target to break all records. These include elements of its inception, preparation, execution and the ultimate place it will assume in the history of international sports events. Many wonder how a tiny Gulf state with little footballing history ended up hosting the biggest event the sport has to offer. Qatar is one of the world's smallest nations, with fewer than 3 million inhabitants. However, it also ranks as the world's 4th richest nation based on GDP per capita. Its selection stirred controversy from the very beginning. It was selected ahead of bids by the U.S., South Korea, Japan and Australia. Opponents exposed the lack of existing infrastructure and the region's intense heat in the summer when World Cup tournaments are traditionally held. Its bid was considered "high risk." Nevertheless, it triumphed with 14 votes against 8 for the U.S. in the final round of balloting. Given the country's immense wealth and the intense pressure it applied to be selected, "bribery" emerged as a prevalent charge. The country contracted David Beckham, a well known popular British player, who had represented England internationally 115 times, including at 3 FIFA World Cups, as ambassador to promote its culture, tourism and its hosting of this year's World Cup. For Beckham's efforts. Qatar is paying him $277 million over ten years. FIFA's president at the time, Sepp Blatter, initially welcomed the selection as showpiece of the event going to "new lands." Twelve years later he changed his mind, admitting during an interview with a Swiss newspaper that "Qatar is a mistake ... the choice was bad." "It is too small a country. Football and the World Cup are too big for this." In preparation for the World Cup, and to contradict charges of owning a deficient infrastructure for the event, Qatar's finance minister, Ali Shareef Al-Emadi, reported that his country had spent $500 million per week on roads, hotels, stadiums, and airport upgrades since its selection in late 2010. It built seven new soccer stadiums, an airport, hotels and shopping malls. All in all Qatar spent $229 billion to prepare for this event, making it the most expensive World Cup ever. By comparison, Brazil spent $19.7 billion in 2014, Russia $16 billion in 2018, South Africa $7.2 billion in 2010 and the U.S. $500 million in 1994. The return on this kind of massive investment will not come close to covering the expenditure. Expectations are that FIFA stands to gain $7 billion in revenue - generated from T.V. broadcasting rights, marketing, ticket sales and hospitality rights. Long term revenue for Qatar is estimated to be between $17 and $20 billion, anticipating future tourism, improvement of its global reputation and promising development of and investment in expansion of its natural gas export industry. The country currently ranks second in the world in this industry behind sanctions burdened Russia. Comparing costs and revenue numbers of this year's event with the World Cup organized by the U.S. in 1994 comes across as an apples and oranges correlation. That year's event was hosted in a number of cities. Los Angeles, which hosted the final that year, netted $623 million. New York, San Francisco and Boston combined reported a revenue of $1 billion 45 million. While the total cost of organizing the 1994 Cup reached $500 million, this year's prize money alone amounts to $440 million. Just to qualify, clubs received $1.5 million; the top two finishers in group play get $9 million each; winners of the round of 16 earn $16 million; Quarter finalists get $17 million; 4th place finishers $25 million; 3rd place gains $27 million; second place $30 million and the overall winner receives $42 million. Moreover, Fox has added another $425 million for the rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments. And Nike, among others, added another $60 million in sponsorship dollars. One of the downsides to all of this spending by host countries has been that almost all end up with massive debt caused by overspending on infrastructure and stadiums. Many are left with construction that serve little purpose after their World Cup comes to a close. A clear illustration of this is the $1 billion Brazil spent in 2014 on building the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia. It is now being used as a bus depot. In addition to financial liabilities, being the focus of much of the world has its drawbacks. Something Qatar to its detriment experienced. The country's use of 1.7 million migrant workers for 90% of its entire workforce, mostly underpaid, while 6500 reportedly died in the process, severely undermined its proclamation of success. So, why do this when the cost benefit analysis is unlikely to pencil out? Hosting the FIFA World Cup is viewed as an honor. Soccer is the world's most popular sport with over 5 billion fans. The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the global calendar - even ahead of the Olympics. More than 5 billion people are expected to watch this year's event in Qatar, with more than one million turning up to watch the games in person. By comparison, the Beijing Olympics "only" drew in 4.7 billion viewers. This result would not only be a record for the World Cup, it would propel the 2022 World Cup into being the most watched sporting event in history. If, as predicted, the event reaches 5 billion viewers, 65% of the world's population would be watching. Much to think about and compete against for the U.S., Canada and Mexico who are scheduled to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Theo Wierdsma