Qatar's 2022 World Cup: The Most Expensive World Cup in History

The World Cup, the pinnacle of global football tournaments, consistently captivates millions of viewers worldwide. Unsurprisingly, World Cup hosts meticulously prepare, incurring substantial costs. Indeed, several World Cups have been among the most expensive events ever staged.

Qatar will spend over US$220 billion on the upcoming 2022 World Cup. This makes the 2022 World Cup in the Middle Eastern nation the most expensive in history. Qatar anticipates a US$20 billion economic boost from hosting this prestigious football tournament.

The announcement of Qatar as the 2022 World Cup host in 2010 was controversial. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was accused of accepting bribes from Qatar.

Here's a list of World Cup costs since 1994:

1. United States 1994: US$500 million
2. France 1998: US$2.3 billion
3. Japan/South Korea 2002: US$7 billion
4. Germany 2006: US$4.3 billion
5. South Africa 2010: US$3.6 billion
6. Brazil 2014: US$15 billion
7. Russia 2018: US$11.6 billion
8. Qatar 2022: US$220 billion

Costs associated with Qatar's new stadiums have been reported in the range of US$6.5 billion to US$10 billion. However, this leaves approximately US$210 billion still to be accounted for. The Qatari government explains that the substantial infrastructure costs associated with the World Cup are part of a broader Qatar 2030 plan to build an innovation hub with hotels, advanced underground transportation, stadiums, and airports.