FIFA has officially raised the stakes for the 2026 World Cup, announcing that the tournament winner will take home a record-breaking $50 million in prize money.
The decision, approved during a FIFA Council meeting in Doha on Wednesday, marks a significant jump from the $42 million awarded to Argentina in 2022 and the $38 million earned by France in 2018.
The total prize pool for the 2026 tournament—hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—has been set at $655 million. This represents a 50% increase over the fund for the Qatar edition, reflecting the expanded 48-team format.
Under the new distribution model, the financial rewards extend deep into the knockout stages:
Runners-up:$33 million
Third Place:$29 million
Fourth Place:$27 million
Group Stage Exit: A minimum of $9 million
Additionally, FIFA will provide $1.5 million to each of the 48 participating nations to assist with "preparation costs."In total, $727 million is expected to be distributed to national federations.
While the $50 million jackpot is a milestone for international soccer, it remains significantly lower than the payouts seen in FIFAs revamped Club World Cup. Earlier this year, the club-level tournament offered a total prize fund of $1 billion, with the winning team (Chelsea) eligible for up to $125 million.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the disparity by noting that the 2026 World Cup remains "groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community,"while pointing out that club prize money accounts for higher overhead costs, such as player wages.
While FIFA pays the national federations directly, it remains up to individual countries to decide how much of the prize money reaches the players. During the 2022 tournament, reports indicated that French players were offered bonuses of approximately $586,000 each had they successfully defended their title.
According to African News, the 2026 World Cup is set to be the largest in history, featuring 104 matches across 16 host cities in North America.
