Record World Cup Numbers

The opening match of the 2014 World Cup is still 11 days off, but according to the AP, spending records already have been set, to wit:  FIFA will realize $4 billion in revenue while Brazil's taxpayers will foot the $14 billion price tag for this shindig.  Nearly all of the 3 million tickets have been bought up for the 64-match, month-long tournament, which is more tickets sold than any previous World Cup.  As noted in a prior post, the World Cup champion will receive $35 million, with the remaining 31 nations splitting $323 million.  Most of FIFA's revenue comes from broadcast rights fees and sponsors, with top-tier sponsors Adidas, Coca-Cola, Emirates, Hyundai, Sony, and Visa coughing up a combined $708.5 million over the past four years.  In case you were wondering . . . FIFA is already on track to net $5 billion in the lead up to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.