2022 budget
2022 budget confirms full‑cycle targets
FIFA remains well on course to achieve the overall revenue budget figure for the full cycle of USD 6,440 million. As at the end of 2020, 80% of the full cycle budget had been already contracted. The 2022 annual budget thus underlines the expectation that the 2019-2022 budget, as approved by the 70th Congress, will be achieved in full.
This is a major accomplishment, considering that the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to severely impact the global economy, which has subsequently led to delays in FIFA rights sales. Despite the prolonged economic slowdown, the overall impact on FIFA’s financials has been minimal. It is expected that the remaining rights will be sold in the course of the next two years and that the impact of the pandemic will soften as 2021 progresses.
The FIFA World Cup™ is the main driver of FIFA’s income and takes place at the end of the four-year cycle, resulting in a delayed pattern of revenue recognition. Therefore, the 2022 budget is of particular importance to the full-cycle budget, as revenue from our flagship tournament is recognised in the 2022 financial statements.
The 2022 revenue budget was prepared in accordance with IFRS rules and principles. By applying IFRS 15, FIFA recognises the respective revenue (and expenses) in the year when the tournament or event is delivered.
This budget is presented using the same structure as that of the full four-year cycle budget and takes into account the changes to the international match calendar caused by the global pandemic. It has been approved by the FIFA Finance Committee and the FIFA Council, with final approval due to be provided by the FIFA Congress in May 2021.
2022 revenue in detail
The total revenue budget for 2022 amounts to USD 4,666 million, of which USD 3,807 million (82%) had been contracted at the balance sheet date of 31 December 2020.
Of the five core revenue categories, television broadcasting rights remains the largest contributor with an overall share of 56%, followed by marketing rights at 29%. Hospitality rights and ticket sales, licensing rights and other revenue make up the remaining 15% of the total 2022 revenue budget.
Television broadcasting rights
The revenue target for television broadcasting rights amounts to USD 2,640 million. The remaining broadcasting rights territories are expected to be contracted within the set time frames.
Marketing rights
The total budget for marketing rights sales is USD 1,353 million, of which 71% had already been contracted at balance sheet date. Two Regional Supporter contracts had been signed in relation to the FIFA World Cup 2022™. Commercial Affiliates are still due to be contracted in the Partner, Sponsor and Regional Supporter categories.
Licensing rights
The licensing rights budget is USD 140 million for the year, mainly in the area of brand licensing, where there has been a positive development in royalty-based income payments received. It is expected that licensing rights targets will also be in line with the full-cycle target.
Hospitality rights and ticket sales
The budgeted revenue from hospitality rights and ticket sales totals USD 500 million. Income from this stream is solely sourced from the FIFA World Cup.
Other revenue and income
Other revenue and income is recognised in the period in which the services are rendered. For 2022, revenue income will be generated from the FIFA Quality Programme, the sale of video rights, the FIFA World Football Museum, penalties and appeals, and rental income. The other revenue and income budget is USD 33 million for the year.
2022 revenue budget by category (USD million)
Detailed investments and expenses budget for 2022
Competitions & Events
The 2022 budget takes into account the delivery of competitions and events that will take place in 2022:
With a total investment of USD 1,696 million, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ is the crowning event of the 2019-2022 cycle. Preparations are in full swing, and despite a more challenging working environment caused by COVID-19, important milestones have been achieved and further progress made. The proximity of the venues to each other and Qatar’s advanced infrastructure will allow FIFA to achieve economies of scale and keep operational costs under control.
Following the 2020 cancellations due to the global pandemic, the 2022 edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™ will be hosted by Costa Rica, and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ will be hosted by India. Both tournaments will feature 16 teams in the final competition. Investment in these women’s youth tournaments is budgeted at USD 21 million each.
For the first time, FIFA will organise a play-off tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. A total of ten teams will participate in the new tournament, with the three group winners qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023™.
The FIFA eWorld Cup™, which has been enjoying rapid growth, is included under “Other tournaments and events”, with total investment in the e-tournament amounting to USD 11 million.
Investment budget for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ (USD million)
Development & Education
Over the 2019-2022 cycle, FIFA will invest a total of USD 1,746 million under FIFA Forward 2.0. For 2022, the figures are as follows:
Each member association will be entitled to receive USD 1 million for operational expenses in 2022:
USD 500,000 for operational expenses in January, and a further USD 500,000 in July, subject to fulfilment of certain conditions as outlined in the Forward 2.0 regulations.Member associations are also entitled to receive USD 2 million for specific projects at any point in the cycle. These funds are also available for each member association to convert their entitlement into operational funds for use as immediate relief to counter the impact of COVID-19 (stage 2 of the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan).
Each confederation will receive USD 12 million in 2022.
Additional funds for travel costs, other programmes and zonal/regional associations will be available at a total of USD 61 million.
The total annual Forward 2.0 budget for 2022 amounts to USD 544 million.
Since the introduction of the VAR system at the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, FIFA has continued to train referees in new technologies through the Refereeing Assistance Programme (RAP). The total investment for 2022 in Refereeing is USD 11 million.
The FIFA Foundation is an independent entity whose aim is to help promote positive social change around the world and raise support for the recovery and reconstruction of damaged or destroyed sports infrastructure worldwide. The 2022 budget to help achieve these objectives is USD 18 million.
In 2022, FIFA will invest a total of USD 15 million to develop its women’s football programmes. FIFA’s Women’s Football Strategy focuses on promoting the women’s game, supporting it financially and giving women and girls the opportunity to become actively involved in football as players, coaches, referees and officials. In addition, FIFA will continue to adhere to its commitment to invest a total of USD 1 billion in the women’s game over a four-year period, of which USD 500 million will be funded from FIFA’s excess reserves.
Investment budget for Development & Education in the year 2022 (USD million)
Football Governance
Football Governance covers costs such as those of the football judicial bodies, preventing match manipulation and the Transfer Matching System, including the newly created TMS Clearing House and electronic player passport. Investment for 2022 will amount to USD 21 million.
FIFA Governance & Administration
FIFA Governance & Administration costs will be continue to be closely scrutinised and kept in line with budget.
At USD 17 million, the legal costs budget for 2022 is lower than in the previous year due to lower provisions for legal cases.
Investment in FIFA’s communications operations will increase to USD 26 million in 2022, with the main focus on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and enhancing the digital experience for fans all around the world.
The information technology budget is in line with previous years, covering the costs of FIFA’s continuous improvement in its operating tools.
The buildings and maintenance budget for 2022 will increase slightly to cover planned renovation work of the FIFA’s facilities.
The amount budgeted for personnel expenses in 2022 reflects an increase for additional Competitions & Events staff to be recruited to deliver FIFA’s flagship event: the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Marketing & TV Broadcasting
FIFA’s expense allocation for Marketing & TV Broadcasting mainly focuses on commercialising the marketing rights, media and TV broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup, along with continued enhancements to FIFA’s digital landscape, in order to deliver first-class services and experiences to MAs, partners, and football fans globally. With the adoption of IFRS 15, FIFA recognises the revenue and the costs of the events in the year that they take place. For this reason, the sales commission costs relating to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ are reflected in the 2022 budget.