The benefits that provoke envy to win the World Cup: how does the country benefit?
Whether you consider yourself a fan of sports or not, it's a fairly unavoidable part of life, especially if your country, city or local team is competing for the championship. Every four years, when the Olympics or the World Cup are held, it's hard not to blend in when your country competes on the world stage. Even someone who avoids exercising at all costs may feel a tickle of pride if an athlete from their country reaches the finals of a major Olympic event.
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- International sporting events like the World Cup and the Olympics often evoke national pride, even among those indifferent to sports.
- While countries may celebrate victories, most of the prize money typically benefits national sports federations, athletes, and coaches rather than the general public.
- Hosting global tournaments can temporarily boost a country's economy and prompt infrastructure improvements, though long-term benefits are uncertain.
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- Residents in host cities frequently bear the financial and logistical burdens, and projected economic benefits often fail to materialize.
- Success in global sports enhances a country's image internationally, potentially increasing interest in tourism and investment.
- Unlike the World Cup, the Olympics offer no direct financial prizes, reinforcing the idea of athletic excellence over profit.
- Despite promised economic advantages, hosting major sports events can result in substantial debt and unfulfilled expectations for local populations.
But, after winning the World Cup, or counting Olympic gold medals, what real benefit does the country feel itself?
World Cup Winners
For those who follow football, the FIFA World Cup is a football feast once every four years during an entire summer month. 32 national teams compete in a grueling schedule of great sports until one champion is crowned. France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, receiving $38 million, its share of the more than $400 million in prize money awarded to the top 32 teams.
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More specifically, these funds are given to the French Football Federation, which can dispose of them as they please.
Most of that $38 million will be distributed in bonuses to players (often tied to how well they perform in the tournament), as well as increased salaries for coaches, new stadiums and facilities, and more purchasing power for free agents and available players.
On an individual level, players may also benefit in terms of increased care and desire for them in their sport, but this does not benefit the country as a whole. The Rugby World Cup has a similar structure in terms of prize money and distribution to national rugby federations.
Throughout the World Cup, the eyes of the world are on the remaining countries of the tournament, especially as they progress to the final stages. This can increase the country's attractiveness for travel and tourism, and in general increase the country's position in the sports field globally.
Although there is no direct correlation, winning on the global sporting scene is often as important as it is in the economy, development and political power. But it is difficult to measure this advantage of being a world champion compared to the direct prize money received by the winning team or teams.
Olympic Champions
The maximum sporting matches between the countries of the world are also held every four years, namely the Summer Olympics. In the last 28 Olympics, 206 different countries have participated, so the world's greatest athletes come together to compete for about a month every four years.
The Olympic Games originated with the ancient Greeks, where athletes competed to bring honor and glory to their city. Although this activity has been on hold for 1,500 years, the intentions of modern athletes are somewhat similar. There are no direct financial benefits to winning Olympic gold, as the IOC leans towards its timeless motto of "faster, higher, stronger", and the idea of priceless sports competition is for pure excellence.
Most countries have some level of government sponsorship for athletes and national teams, so winning additional medals could lead to an increase in the budget that allows more funds to be allocated to these efforts. Successful national athletes are also spreading sport in the country, inspiring more young people to become professional athletes. These same athletes are likely to become world-renowned people, making them valued in sponsorship and advertising, just like World Cup stars. Also in line with World Cup countries, medal-winning countries are looking good on the world stage, which could boost tourism, investment and other indirect benefits.
Host cities and countries
On a related topic, it is interesting to look at the cities and countries hosting the tournament. While being awarded the right to host the World Cup or the Olympics is a great honor, residents of these areas often have conflicting feelings. The choice of host country for such an event could lead to an initial boost to the economy, especially since new stadiums and facilities must often be built. This kind of hosting honor can be the beginning of the modernization of infrastructure and public transport. On the other hand, host cities and countries are experiencing a temporary economic boost during the event itself, as tens of thousands of people may flock during the month of events.
But the people living in these cities and countries, despite promises of massive flows of money, do not see the long-term benefits in the end. Major repairs and infrastructure projects can restrict traffic and be a nuisance for years before the event. Moreover, the financial benefits often go to the facilities and industries that arise to surround the event, but they often dry up shortly after the tournament, or cause more problems. The unused and corruption-ridden stadiums across Brazil, built to host the 2014 World Cup, are a case in point.
On the other hand, in many cases, promises of financial gain to residents and citizens are sold for their support, as well as honor and national pride for being the hosts of the tournament, but these promises are rarely kept. There is usually a cost to taxpayers over a period of years, and overruns in costs borne by cities are common. The cost of the Montreal Olympics exceeded budget by more than a billion dollars, and it took three decades to pay off the debt in full.
Finally, there is always the possibility of a tournament event failing (poor attendance, poor viewership, etc.), which can be devastating for the host country or city. Overall, hosting a tournament event is a blessing or a curse, depending on factors that don't become clear until it's too late!
Final Word
Being a world champion is rare and enviable, but for a country that "wins" the championship, there are few direct or measurable benefits. In some cases, the country's sports bodies earn some money, and the athletes and coaches involved receive a financial gain. In most cases, the benefits are more abstract and immeasurable, such as improved reputation on the world stage, or perceived strength and excellence. In short, you can support your country's team in a world championship, but don't expect any tax breaks if they can win the crown!
