In 2014 and 2018, Brazil and Russia spent less than $15 billion to host the World Cups. When Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup in 2010, the potential cost was estimated at $65 billion.
It is not possible to give a direct answer to the question of how much it finally happened. However, several estimates suggest that the total cost will exceed $200 billion.
Dan Plumley, a lecturer in sports finance at Sheffield Hallam University, said, “Some recent estimates suggest that the cost could exceed $200 billion. It’s going to be the most expensive World Cup ever, although we don’t know yet exactly how much it’s going to cost.”
US sports finance consultancy Front Office Sports estimates the cost could exceed $220 billion.
Hassan Al Thawadi, the head of the organization in charge of organizing the World Cup, said that after receiving the responsibility of organizing the World Cup in 2010, the cost of the infrastructure sector will exceed 200 billion dollars.
Not being able to confirm the cost of hosting the World Cup is because the Qatari government had already started infrastructure development under the “Qatar National Vision 2030”. They are implemented earlier on a priority basis after receiving the World Cup mandate.
For example, a new metro system has been launched, an international airport, new roads, around 100 new hotels and leisure facilities have been constructed.
Seven new stadiums have been built for the World Cup. The government says it has cost six and a half billion dollars. A total of eight stadiums will be played.
A country of 2.8 million people does not need so many stadiums. Therefore, it is planned to keep three at the end of the World Cup and use the rest for other purposes.
Kieran Maguire, a football finance specialist at the University of Liverpool, believes that “Qatar may want to host games like the European Champions League or the Europa League final in the future, given the new infrastructure.”
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