W’Cup: FIFA Announces 50% Increase In Prize Money
Fifa has announced a 50% increase in the 2026 World Cup prize money to participating teams at the 23rd edition in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The payout forms the bulk of a record $727m (£544.8m) financial distribution that the governing body’s council has approved as a result of the event.
The World Cup winners will receive $50m (£37.4m), with the runners-up being awarded $33m (£24.7m). Those who fail to progress beyond the group stage will get $9m (£6.7m).
In addition, each qualified team will receive $1.5m (£1.1m) to cover preparation costs, meaning that all participating member associations are each guaranteed at least $10.5m (£7.8m).
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the payments showed the World Cup would be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community.
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Infantino said: “The Fifa World Cup 2026 will … be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community.
The organisation has already forecast record revenues, external of $13bn (£9.7bn) for the 2023-2026 cycle.
The announcement comes a day after Fifa introduced a small number of £45 tickets for all 104 matches at the World Cup following an outcry over its pricing structure for the tournament.
The 16 nations that fail to survive beyond the initial group phase will earn $9 million while in addition, each qualified nation is entitled to $1.5 million to cover preparation costs.
FIFA’s Council also confirmed festival-style youth tournaments for under-15s open to all member associations to commence in 2026 with a boys’ event followed by a girls’ competition in 2027.
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It also confirmed that the 2028 Women’s Club World Cup will be held from January 5 to January 30, and also approved the establishment of a post-conflict recovery fund in line with [its] objective of promoting football’s unifying values.
The governing body expects to rake in $13bn between 2022 and 2026, up from $7.5bn over the four years to 2022 (itself an increase from $6.4bn over the previous cycle).
Much of the growth was attributed by Fifa to the expansion of the World Cup and the men’s Club World Cup which took place in the US last summer.
2026 World Cup Prize Money Breakdown
Winners: $50m
Runners-up: $33m
3rd place: $29m
4th place: $27m
5th-8th place: $19m
9th-16th place: $15m
17th-32nd place: $11m
33rd-48th place: $9m
