Thought this was interesting re the World Cup prizes

[Guest dale1]

The World Cup winning side receives a total of $31m. The runners-up will get $24m, semi-finalists $20m and the quarter-finalists $18m each. Teams that reach the second round will get $9m and even those eliminated in the group phase will receive $8m. Each team have already received $1m from Fifa towards their "preparation costs".

[Guest fountainhall]

Two other points to consider. Firstly, whilst the winning national teams receive these substantial payouts, the players themselves are not paid by their national sides. Their wages remain the responsibility of their own clubs, who get nothing - except players returning for the start of a domestic season sometimes with broken limbs! Their national football organisation will offer a 'negotiated' bonus with the players should the team win, but they keep the balance of the 'prizes'.

 

Secondly, the world soccer body FIFA ends up with monster profits from each World Cup. FIFA is estimating its profit at about US$2 billion from the 2010 World Cup, even after making a contribution of over US$600 million to the South African hosts. Whilst the hosts also keep the ticket revenues, they have to pay for everything, especially the building of new stadia and transport systems, and the renovation of older ones.

 

FIFA seems to budget on a 4-year cycle. Revenues for 2011 - 2014 are estimated at a staggering $3.8 billion, of which $3.2 billion is already contracted through official sponsors, sale of broadcasting rights and advertisers for the 2014 tournament. Admittedly it pumps huge sums back in to the game, especially for a number of other tournaments which is exclusively runs and grass roots development of the sport throughout the world. But I'd love to see an analysis of the profits left over. I wonder who benefits from them, as FIFA is a registered charity in its home base of Switzerland? Just curious.

[Guest Kurt]

The wins of FIFA aren't published and they don't even have to pay taxes <Kurt