Economy · Full coverage
From Sleeping in Cars to a Global Cash Machine: How the World Cup Became a Business Giant
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
First reported by Globes · Jun 11, 2026
Center 1Unrated 1
What happened
The World Cup has evolved from a small 1930 football project into FIFA’s biggest revenue source. A Tel Aviv University and INSS scholar says hosts usually bear the costs, while fans pay sharply higher ticket and travel prices for the 2026 tournament in North America.
- 01FIFA now gets 80 to 85 percent of its income from the World Cup.
- 02The first World Cup sailed to Uruguay in 1930 aboard the Conte Verde.
- 03Hosts often bear costs, while tourism gains are limited, Padalon says.
- 04World Cup 2026 expands to 48 teams across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
- 05Ticket prices have risen from about $30 in 1994 to around $300 today.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
Full coverage · 2 outlets
The same event, reported separately by each newsroom. Open a few to compare what each emphasizes — and what they leave out.
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