Fifa set to increase 2026 World Cup prize money

[BENGALURU] Fifa is in discussions with national associations to increase prize money for all 48 teams participating in the 2026 World Cup, soccer’s global governing body said on Sunday (Apr 26).

The proposal must be approved at Tuesday’s Fifa Council meeting, being held ahead of the 76th Fifa Congress in Vancouver.

In December, Fifa said that prize money for this year’s World Cup would be 50 per cent higher than for the previous edition at US$655 million after agreeing a record US$727 million financial contribution to the tournament.

However, Fifa has said that the prize money on offer is set to increase with the world governing body projected to surpass US$11 billion in revenue in the current four-year cycle from 2023 to 2026.

“Fifa can confirm it is in discussions with associations around the world to increase available revenues,” said a Fifa spokesperson.

“This includes a proposed increase of financial contributions to all qualified teams for the Fifa World Cup 2026 and of development funding available to all 211 member associations.

“The Fifa World Cup 2026 will be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community and Fifa is proud to be in its strongest ever financial position to benefit the global game through its Fifa Forward programme.”

The biggest slice of Fifa’s initial funding package for the North American showpiece – US$655 million – was to be performance-based payments to the 48 participating nations.

Fifa’s December announcement on prize money said that the champions would take home US$50 million and the runners-up US$33 million, while the 16 nations that failed to advance from the initial group phase were set to earn US$9 million.

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Additionally, each qualified nation would be entitled to US$1.5 million to cover preparation costs.

Fifa’s 2025 annual report said that 93 per cent of its total budgeted revenue had already been contracted by the end of 2025, thanks to the success of the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup held in the United States last year.

The 2026 World Cup runs from Jun 11 to Jul 19 in the US, Mexico and Canada. REUTERS