FIFA announces a record $655 million prize fund for the 2026 World Cup, with the winning team set to receive $50 million
THE winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive a record USD 50 million in prize money.
World football’s governing body announced the figure as part of a total tournament prize fund of USD 655 million.
This represents an increase of almost 50% from the USD 440 million distributed to teams at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, a 50% increase from the previous 32-team format.
The beaten finalists in 2026 will receive USD 33 million, with third place earning USD 29 million and the other semi-finalist getting USD 27 million.
Teams eliminated in the group phase will each receive USD 9 million.
All 48 participating nations will also get an additional USD 1.5 million to cover preparation costs.
The Argentine Football Association received USD 42 million for winning the 2022 final, while runners-up France earned USD 30 million.
The announcement follows criticism from fans over ticket pricing for the 2026 tournament, to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
FIFA responded by creating a limited number of tickets priced at USD 60 for all 104 matches, including the final.
It said the plan was designed to further support travelling fans following their national teams across the tournament.
Fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the new ticket category as nothing more than an appeasement tactic.
The group claimed few fans would benefit, with only a few hundred per match likely to access the USD 60 tickets.
It said the vast majority would still have to pay extortionate prices, way higher than at any tournament before. – AFP
