The 2026 World Cup — expected to be the most profitable in the tournament's history — kicked off on Thursday. FIFA said it could generate $13 billion in revenue from the four-year cycle that concludes with the roughly five-week-long tournament. It estimated that the World Cup could add about $17.2 billion to US GDP, and extensive infrastructure investments have been made across the country in preparation for the tournament and its festivities. But the wealth extends onto the field, too.