In this World Cup in Qatar, the Japanese team reversed the Spanish team, and Japanese fans held celebrations in Tokyo. But what is unexpected is that the Nikkei average also soared.

On game day, when the VAR (video assistant referee) was still poring over Kaoru Misaki’s controversial winning goal for Japan on the relevant TV broadcast, the listing prices of Japanese sports broadcasters, bar chains and sporting goods companies had already on the rise . Soaring stock prices in Japan are just one example of the huge financial gains that can come from moments of football glory.

Whatever the metric, football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the world. According to World Population Review, “the sport has an estimated 3.5 billion fans worldwide and 250 million players in 200 countries .”

Football is truly a global sport. Research by Statista found that interest in football matches is highest in the Middle East, where the 2022 World Cup will be held for the first time.

With this fan size, football games clearly have the opportunity to create a huge revenue stream. Soccer governing bodies around the world jumped at the chance, like Messi pounced on a slack pass. The Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel reported that the 2022 World Cup would generate a record $ 7.5 billion for FIFA, soccer’s worldwide governing body , less than what it earned from staging the World Cup in Russia in 2018. $1 billion higher. So, who can get a share of the huge economic profits brought about by the World Cup?

According to Bloomberg, the total prize money for the 2022 World Cup is $ 440 million . The team that hoists the Golden Hercules Trophy on Dec. 18 will receive $42 million, while the losing team will receive $30 million, which may ease some of the frustration.

Even those teams that don’t make it past the group stage early in the tournament get $9 million each.

Considering that many of the world’s top players already possess enormous wealth, the financial incentive for them is not as great as the great sense of accomplishment that football brings. After helping France win the 2018 World Cup, striker Kylian Mbappe donated his winnings to a charity that gives disadvantaged and disabled children the chance to enjoy sport. The England squad did the same after losing to Croatia in the 2018 semi-final .

As well as awarding players bonuses for their contribution to the game, FIFA also pays the clubs they play for in leagues around the world.

Under FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme, 416 football clubs from 63 associations will receive $209 million in economic benefits. FIFA stated that this is a recognition of the club’s contribution to the success of the World Cup.

Clubs will apply for these compensations through digital platforms, “During the official preparations for the 2022 World Cup and during the competition, players will receive compensation of approximately US$10,000 for each day they play for the national team. All the clubs you play for get compensation.”

A strong performance at the World Cup can also lead to huge opportunities for young or relatively unknown players. Play well in front of billions of TV viewers, and the value of the player will also increase.

Even before the World Cup in Qatar began, England’s 19-year-old midfielder Jude Bellingham was already attracting the attention of major clubs around the world. ESPN calls Bellingham the most valuable player at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with a transfer fee estimated at $212 million.

Bellingham’s current club – Borussia Dortmund in Germany – may be able to command a higher fee when the Premier League clubs approach him after the game, given his stellar performances in the World Cup.