FIFA has established a record prize fund for the 2026 World Cup, distributing a combined $871 million across all 48 participating teams. The tournament winner will receive $51 million, with the runner-up earning $34 million. Third and fourth place finishers will take home $30 million and $28 million respectively, with payments scaling down through the tournament rounds for remaining teams.
The expanded purse includes an additional $100 million that was added in April following lobbying efforts by several European federations. These nations cited the substantial costs associated with competing in a tournament spanning three countries, which has required significant expenditures for travel and accommodation. The total payout represents a significant increase from the 2022 tournament, where the champion received $42 million from a total prize fund of $440 million.
Beyond the performance-based prize money, FIFA provides all 48 federations with $12.5 million for qualifying and participation in the group stage. Each federation also receives $2.5 million for pre-tournament training and preparation expenses. Additionally, FIFA covers business-class return flights, hotel accommodations for a 50-person delegation, and domestic transportation during the tournament.
The prize money is distributed to national soccer federations rather than directly to players, with individual federations determining how to allocate funds to their squads. The U.S. Soccer Federation exemplifies one approach, allocating 80 percent of prize winnings equally between its men’s and women’s national teams while retaining 20 percent. The actual World Cup trophy presented at the awards ceremony is a gold-plated replica that the winning nation keeps, with the original trophy remaining FIFA’s property.
Originally reported by AP News. Read the full story →