Fifa has announced a major increase in prize money for the 2026 World Cup, raising payouts to teams by 50 percent.
The expanded tournament, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature a record 48 teams and 104 matches. Fifa’s council approved a total financial distribution of $727 million, the highest in the competition’s history.
Under the new structure, the World Cup winners will receive $50 million, while the runners-up will earn $33 million. Teams eliminated at the group stage will still take home $9 million.
In addition, every qualified nation will receive $1.5 million to cover preparation costs. This means each participating football association is guaranteed at least $10.5 million, regardless of performance.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the increased payouts show the tournament’s growing financial impact on global football. Fifa has forecast record revenues of $13 billion for the 2023–2026 cycle.
The announcement comes as Fifa faces criticism over ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup. Earlier this week, the organisation introduced a limited number of lower-cost tickets priced at £45 for all matches after backlash from fans.
Football supporters’ groups have welcomed the move but say it does not go far enough, arguing that the World Cup risks becoming unaffordable for ordinary fans.
Fifa also approved the creation of a post-conflict recovery fund, aimed at supporting football development in regions affected by conflict. The fund will allow third-party contributions and operate under strict oversight, alongside existing Fifa development programmes.
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