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'A World Cup is 104 Super Bowls' FIFA president takes a jibe at NFL ahead of 2026 World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has drawn a powerful analogy between two of the world's biggest sporting spectacles: the FIFA World Cup and the NFL’s Super Bowl.

Varul Chaturvedi

• Sun • 06 Apr 2025

Argentina World Cup and Chiefs Super bowl win in the frame

Highlights:

Before the 2026 spectacle kicks off, the United States will first host another significant event.

This summer promises to be action-packed for soccer fans in the U.S. as the country gears up to host both the Club World Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has drawn a powerful analogy between two of the world's biggest sporting spectacles: the FIFA World Cup and the NFL’s Super Bowl. In an interview with FOX Sports, Infantino highlighted the staggering reach of the World Cup by comparing it to the Super Bowl’s massive audience numbers.

“The impact will be global,” Infantino stated, referencing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. “I mean, look at the Super Bowl, which is fantastic. It has what, 120, 130 million viewers, right? The World Cup has 6 billion viewers [over a month of matches], so a World Cup is 104 Super Bowls in a month – which is three Super Bowls a day... This can happen every week if you have the best league in the world.”

A Groundbreaking Tournament Before 2026

Before the 2026 spectacle kicks off, the United States will first host another significant event – the revamped FIFA Club World Cup. Scheduled from June 14 to July 13, the tournament will see 32 of the top club teams from across the globe competing for a historic prize.

Among the elite clubs confirmed to participate are Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Inter Miami, and Real Madrid, with global stars like Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi expected to take center stage.

Historic Stakes and Record Prize Pool

Infantino described the Club World Cup as a major step in FIFA’s global vision for club football: “You get the best of the best as Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe will be there, so will Leo Messi and many many others. The 32 best club teams and at stake is an incredible trophy, but the money we’re talking about is $1 billion as prize money for the winning team. First time, we’re organizing an event like that, first time there will be a club truly crowned world champion by FIFA.”

What Lies Ahead

This summer promises to be action-packed for soccer fans in the U.S. as the country gears up to host both the Club World Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup, further fueling the momentum in the buildup to FIFA World Cup 2026.