The winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive a record $50 million in prize money, as football’s global governing body has approved a significant 50% increase in the total tournament purse. This financial uplift ensures that all 48 competing nations will be guaranteed a minimum payout of $10.5 million.
The decision, ratified by the FIFA Council, allocates a total of $727 million to be distributed among member associations in connection with the upcoming tournament. From this sum, $655 million is designated as direct prize money. The runner-up team will earn $33 million, while nations finishing between 33rd and 48th place in the expanded format will each receive $9 million. An additional $1.5 million per team for preparation costs contributes to the guaranteed minimum.
This financial announcement arrives amidst ongoing public debate regarding ticket affordability for the North American-hosted event. In a recent move addressing fan concerns, FIFA stated it would release a limited number of discounted tickets priced at $60 within the allocations sold by national associations to their supporters. However, these budget-friendly seats will constitute only a small fraction of available tickets. For instance, in the allocation for England’s opening match, fewer than 10% of tickets are expected to be offered at the lowest price point.
FIFA forecasts unprecedented revenues for the current four-year financial cycle, projecting income to reach $13 billion by the end of 2026. Officials have cited the expansion of the World Cup and the introduction of the revamped men’s Club World Cup as key drivers behind this substantial financial growth.