World Cup Hosting is at the center of one of the biggest storylines in the NFL right now.
As the NFL prepares to host the 2026 World Cup, 11 stadiums will have to install playing surfaces that meet exacting standards, change the names of the facilities, and shut down all other business for the duration of the tournament. This raises the question of whether it’s worth it for the teams involved. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe recently explored this issue, with an NFL official from a team that won’t be hosting any games stating, “I know more than a few teams weren’t disappointed to lose the bid.” The total revenue projected from hosting the World Cup is roughly $11 billion, with FIFA paying rent for the stadiums while keeping the revenue from sponsorships, tickets, suites, merchandise, concessions, and parking. Track all nfl news and rumors developments at our NFL News and Rumors coverage.
Hosting the World Cup
The NFL teams hosting the World Cup will have to make significant adjustments to their stadiums, including installing new playing surfaces and changing the names of the facilities. This will require a significant amount of work and expense, but teams like the Cowboys are willing to make the investment. Jerry Jones, the owner and GM of the Cowboys, has expressed his enthusiasm for hosting the World Cup, saying, “Can’t sleep… This is a great chance to associate with the worldwide love of soccer, and lets us put a little notch on our belt and share it with what soccer’s about, too.” The Cowboys will have to shut down all other business for the summer, but Jones believes it will be worth it, saying, “We’ll be shut down all summer. But it’s worth it. I mean, this is about brand and, you know, being a part of something special.” Data from Over The Cap puts this deal in broader context.
Revenue and Expenses
The total revenue projected from hosting the World Cup is roughly $11 billion, with FIFA paying rent for the stadiums while keeping the revenue from sponsorships, tickets, suites, merchandise, concessions, and parking. The terms of the deal have been kept under wraps, but it’s likely that the teams will make more money hosting the World Cup than they would in a normal summer. However, the extra work and expenses required to host the tournament may be a headache for the teams. As Jerry Jones noted, “I think I’ve got to go someplace else, but that was a part of it. We did a lot of things to make this work.” The Cowboys, along with the other hosting teams, will have to balance the benefits of hosting the World Cup with the potential drawbacks.
Perception and Reality
The decision by NFL owners to host the World Cup and meet FIFA’s demands while refusing to do the same for pro football players may be seen as a public relations bruise. The perception that the owners are willing to make concessions for soccer but not for their own players may be damaging to the league’s image. As one NFL official noted, “I know more than a few teams weren’t disappointed to lose the bid.” This sentiment may reflect the concerns of some teams about the potential drawbacks of hosting the World Cup. However, for teams like the Cowboys, the benefits of hosting the tournament seem to outweigh the costs.
The hosting of the World Cup by NFL teams raises important questions about the priorities of the league and its owners. As the tournament approaches, it will be interesting to see how the teams balance their responsibilities to FIFA with their obligations to their own players and fans. Will the benefits of hosting the World Cup outweigh the costs, or will the tournament be seen as a distraction from the NFL’s core business? Only time will tell, but for now, the focus is on preparing for the big event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NFL teams will be hosting the 2026 World Cup?
The Cowboys, Patriots, Falcons, Texans, Chargers/Rams, Giants/Jets, Chiefs, Seahawks, 49ers, Dolphins, and Eagles will be hosting World Cup games in their stadiums. The total revenue projected from hosting the World Cup is roughly $11 billion.
How much revenue will the NFL teams make from hosting the World Cup?
The terms of the deal have been kept under wraps, but it’s likely that the teams will make more money hosting the World Cup than they would in a normal summer. FIFA will pay rent for the stadiums while keeping the revenue from sponsorships, tickets, suites, merchandise, concessions, and parking.
What adjustments will the NFL teams have to make to host the World Cup?
The NFL teams hosting the World Cup will have to install playing surfaces that meet exacting standards, change the names of the facilities, and shut down all other business for the duration of the tournament. This will require a significant amount of work and expense, but teams like the Cowboys are willing to make the investment.
As the NFL teams prepare to host the 2026 World Cup, it’s clear that the tournament will have a significant impact on the league and its owners. The question is, will the benefits of hosting the World Cup outweigh the costs, and how will the teams balance their responsibilities to FIFA with their obligations to their own players and fans?