Sports

Qatar Spent Over $220 Billion on the 2022 World Cup

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is estimated to have cost approximately $220 billion, making it by far the most expensive World Cup in history. This is more than 15 times what Russia spent for the 2018 tournament ($14.2 billion). Qatar spent $500 million per week on infrastructure including seven new stadiums, roads, hotels, and airport upgrades. For $220 billion, Qatar could have bought approximately 4.4 million Lamborghinis—or just one really, really memorable month of football.

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Qatar's investment in the 2022 World Cup represents the largest expenditure in the tournament's history. The estimated $220 billion total includes the construction of seven new stadiums, extensive transportation infrastructure, hotel accommodations, and airport expansions. By comparison, Russia spent approximately $14.2 billion on the 2018 tournament, and Brazil spent around $15 billion in 2014. At its peak in 2017, Qatar was spending $500 million per week on capital projects related to the World Cup. The spending covered not just sports facilities but also a new metro system, roads, and the entirely new city of Lusail built specifically for the tournament.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2022/11/19/the-money-behind-the-most-expensive-world-cup-in-history-qatar-2022-by-the-numbers/