The FIFA champion’s payout marks a significant increase on the $42 million awarded to Argentina in 2022 and the $38 million collected by France in 2018.
Manchester: The winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive $50 million from a record prize pool of $655 million, the governing body confirmed on Wednesday. The announcement comes amid criticism over soaring ticket prices for the tournament, which will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
FIFA’s council approved the new prize structure at a meeting in Doha. The organisation has projected revenues of $13 billion for the current four-year cycle through 2026, up from $7.5 billion in the 2019–22 period.
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The champion’s payout marks a significant increase on the $42 million awarded to Argentina in 2022 and the $38 million collected by France in 2018. However, it remains less than half of the $125 million Chelsea earned earlier this year for winning the expanded Club World Cup, a competition that faced resistance from players and leagues and drew sparse attendances at several matches.
The overall prize fund for the men’s World Cup has risen by nearly 49 per cent from the $440 million distributed in Qatar in 2022. By contrast, the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand offered $110 million in prize money. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has pledged to achieve equal rewards for men and women at their next respective tournaments, with the women’s event scheduled for 2027 in Brazil.
FIFA’s distribution model differs between national team and club competitions, reflecting factors such as wage structures. Beyond prize money, the organisation also allocates funds for the global development of football. Infantino described the 2026 World Cup as “groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community.”
In Europe, disparities between competitions are also evident. The maximum prize for last year’s European Championship was $33.5 million, while Real Madrid collected around $154 million for winning the Champions League in the same season. Both tournaments are overseen by UEFA.
Each of the 48 federations competing in the expanded World Cup will receive $1.5 million for preparation costs and $9 million for participation in the group stage. Progression to the new round of 32 will earn $11 million, while reaching the round of 16 brings $15 million. Quarter-finalists will receive $19 million, with fourth place awarded $27 million, third place $29 million, and the runners-up $33 million.
In total, FIFA will distribute $727 million to the participating federations, which retain discretion over how much is passed on to players. French newspaper L’Equipe reported that France’s squad stood to gain bonuses of $586,000 each had they won the 2022 final, which ultimately went to Argentina.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Soccer Federation’s collective bargaining agreements stipulate that prize money from the men’s 2026 and women’s 2027 World Cups will be pooled, with 80 per cent shared among players.
AP
Published: 18 Dec 2025, 02:49 pm IST
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