By Our Reporter
FIFA has approved a significant increase in prize money for the 2026 World Cup, raising the total prize pool to $655 million, the highest in the tournament’s history.
The decision was taken at a FIFA Council meeting in Doha on December 17, ahead of the Intercontinental Cup final. The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will feature an expanded field of 48 teams, up from 32.
The new prize pool represents a 48.9 percent increase from the $440 million awarded at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the increase reflects the organization’s broader effort to redistribute football revenues across the global game.
FIFA also projects total revenues of $13 billion for the 2023–2026 cycle, a sharp rise from $7.6 billion recorded in the previous four-year period. However, the increase in prize money falls short of the expansion in participating teams, with FIFA citing new youth competitions and financial recovery support for regional confederations as factors influencing the allocation.
Under the revised structure, the 2026 World Cup champions will earn $50 million, up from the $42 million received by Argentina in 2022. Teams that reach the round of 16 will receive $15 million, while those eliminated at the group stage will continue to earn $9 million. Each participating team will also receive an additional $1.5 million to cover tournament preparation costs.
As a result, every team that qualifies for the finals is guaranteed a minimum payout of $10.5 million.