2026 World Cup: FIFA announces $50 million prize for winner, $10.5 million for each qualified nation
Football governing body FIFA has announced a record-breaking $727 million financial reward for participating nations in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
“The FIFA Council met ahead of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar, and took key decisions in relation to the development of youth football and governance matters,” the governing body said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement added, “With excitement mounting following the final draw that took place on 5 December 2025 in Washington, DC, the FIFA Council approved a record-breaking financial contribution of $727 million to be distributed as a result of the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
The monetary incentives approved by the FIFA Council on Wednesday are 50 per cent more than the amount shared by the 32 teams that participated in the last World Cup in Qatar.
Of the total fund, $655 million has been set aside as reward payments for the 48 participating teams, based on their performance in the tournament, with the eventual champions walking away with a whopping $50 million.
The runners-up will receive $33 million, $29 million for third place, $27 million for fourth place, $19 million each for teams that finished fifth to eighth, and $15 million each for the ones that placed ninth to 16th.
Meanwhile, teams that finished between 17th and 32nd place are set to be rewarded with $11 million each, and teams that finished 33rd–48th are set to receive $9 million each.
In addition, each qualified team will receive $1.5 million to cover preparation costs, meaning that all participating member associations are guaranteed at least $10.5 million each.
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