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- Fifa says it has reached 95% of its revenue target for 2019 to 2022 cycle
- Broadcast rights generated US$123m in 2021, while marketing sales reached US$131m
Fifa, soccer’s global governing body, has announced that it expects revenue to exceed its US$6.44 billion revenue target for the 2019 to 2022 rights cycle.
In its 2021 annual report, Fifa says that it reached US$766.5 million in revenues for 2021, exceeding its original budget target by three per cent. It also represents a 187 per cent increase on 2020, when Fifa posted revenue of US$266.5 million.
Contracted revenue as of 31st December 2021 therefore stood at US$6.11 billion, meaning Fifa has hit 95 per cent of its revenue target for the three-year cycle that concludes with the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The organisation now expects to pass its overall target for the current cycle and set a new revenue record.
Fifa says it generated US$123 million in broadcast rights revenue for 2021, meaning the soccer body is now set up to post a new income record for the sector by the end of the current cycle.
Marketing sales, another major traditional income driver, reached US$131 million last year. The bulk of that revenue (US$93 million) came from Fifa’s global partnership agreements, while US$30 million came from World Cup sponsors. A further US$5 million was generated from Fifa regional supporters, US$2 million from women’s soccer partners and US$1 million from national-level sponsors.
Fifa’s income from licensing hit US$180 million in 2021, with this expected to increase over the coming months as the World Cup sees a ramp up in the governing body’s merchandise and ecommerce operations, as well as further activations in gaming.
Revenue from hospitality and ticket sales reached US$12 million last year, mainly due to ticket sales for the Fifa Arab Cup which ran from 30th November until 18th December. Fifa says that 631,742 spectators attended 32 matches during the tournament.
Fifa brought in US$320 million in ‘other income’ last year, including US$60 million granted by the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) in compensation for corruption carried out by former officials. The remaining US$260 million was brought in by the Club World Cup, break fees related to cancelled contracts, property sales, Fifa Museum revenue and income from sales of archive content.
The governing body paid out US$1.08 billion in expenses and investments in 2021. The biggest outlay was US$555 million on development projects, while US$234 million went towards events, US$192 million on federation governance, US$52 million on commercial areas and broadcasting, as well as US$44 million on sporting governance.
By the end of the last financial accounting period, Fifa’s total assets increased by 21 per cent to US$5.5 billion.
Fifa finance committee chair, Alejandro Dominguez, said: “The past two years have shown us that, just as in a football match, we never truly know what may be awaiting us around the next corner.
“The global game remains in good health as we look ahead with great optimism to 2022, a Fifa World Cup year, in good shape and great spirits.”
