FIFA has officially announced that the winners of the 2026 World Cup will receive a record-breaking US50 million in prize money. This marks a significant increase from the US42 million awarded to Argentina in 2022.
The total prize fund has surged to US$655 million, representing a nearly 50 percent increase compared to the tournament in Qatar, as the governing body prepares for its largest event to date.
The 2026 tournament, hosted across North America, will be the first to feature 48 teams. Under the new financial structure, the beaten finalists will pocket US33 million, while third-place finishers will collect US29 million.
Even the other defeated semi-finalists will receive US$27 million. This expansion in payouts reflects the increased scale of the competition, which has grown by 50 percent from the traditional 32-team format used previously.
Financial support extends to all participants, with teams eliminated in the group phase receiving US9 million.
Furthermore, FIFA confirmed that all 48 participating nations will get an additional US1.5 million to cover “preparation costs.”
This comprehensive funding package ensures that every qualifying country benefits from the record financial contribution generated by the world’s most watched sporting event, scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19.