FIFA Reveal USD631m Profits Since ’07 and Places for Rio ’14
March 4, 2011
The world’s soccer governing body FIFA have announced a profit of US$631m over the last four years. FIFA’s financial report released yesterday, March 3, also revealed that 87 per cent of its $4.19bn turnover was generated by the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The report also confirmed that expenditure over the four-year period was $3.56bn, $105m over budget due to additional investments in soccer development and a $31m overspend on the 2010 World Cup.
FIFA’s annual profits have grown steadily from $49m in 2007 to $202m in 2010, while the ruling body’s reserves have reached $1.28bn.
Director of finance Markus Kattner stated: “FIFA is financially strong and dependent on the World Cup. This illustrates the necessity for FIFA to build up and have sufficient reserves to decrease its dependency on the World Cup.”
Additionally, FIFA announced that the places assured to each soccer region for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will remain the same as in 2010. Under that format, Europe is guaranteed 13 spots, Africa will have five, Asia will have four and Central and North America will have three.
South America – in addition to Brazil qualifying automatically as host – will have four spots. South America, Asia, Central and North America and Oceania were also given a half-berth, meaning one country from each region will qualify for a two-legged playoff series for an opportunity to advance as one of the final two qualifiers. The play-off series will be decided by an open draw in future, rather than pre-arranged pairings.
The FIFA Executive Committee also confirmed the host nations for a number of major youth international tournaments. The 2015 Women’s World Cup and 2014 Under-20 Women’s World Cup will be staged by Canada, the 2013 Under-20 World Cup will be hosted by Turkey and the 2015 Under-20 World Cup will take place in New Zealand.
It was also decided that the 2013 Under-17 World Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates, the 2015 Under-17 World Cup will take place in Chile, the 2012 Women’s Under-20 World Cup will be staged in Uzbekistan and the 2014 Under-17 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Costa Rica.
