The FIFA World Cup is not just one of the biggest sporting events in the world, it is also a huge business. Primarily through the sale of broadcasting and marketing rights, FIFA generates billions in revenue every four years and, as the following graphic shows, makes a considerable surplus after deducting all costs. Looking at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, for example, FIFA's revenue stood at $4.83 billion, while expenses were only $2.22 billion.

While television rights (£2.43 billion $) and marketing rights (£1.58 billion $) were the largest items on FIFA's balance sheet, contributions to the local organizing committee (£453 million $), TV production costs (£370 million $), and prize money (£358 million $) were FIFA's largest expenditures for the 2014 tournament. Interestingly, the FIFA only $100 million available for the FIFA World Cup Legacy Fund, which is intended to support the long-term impact of the tournament by funding infrastructure projects and other initiatives in the host country.

In view of FIFA's surplus of $2.6bn, it seems the world football governing body could do more to leave a significant legacy in the countries that provide the stage for its greatest show.