FIFA agrees 50% prize money increase for 2026 World Cup

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :December 17, 2025 at 10:52 PM

Modified at :December 17, 2025 at 10:52 PM

Argentina's Germán Pezzella FIFA World Cup

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

The next year’s World Cup will feature 48 nations.

For the upcoming World Cup, FIFA has announced a 50% increase in prize money. The winners will receive $50 million (£37.5 million) as compensation for their achievements.

The announcement follows days of public indignation about the cost of tickets for the event, which will take place across the US, Mexico, and Canada. FIFA said this week that fans from participating nations will receive a limited number of discounted tickets.

FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, said: “The Fifa World Cup 2026 will … be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community.”

How much money will nations receive throughout the competition?

FIFA World Cup trophy — A general view of the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. Picture date: Sunday December 18, 2022. Picture date: Sunday December 18, 2022. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

Following a Council meeting in Doha, FIFA announced that $727 million would be distributed to its member countries “as a result of the FIFA World Cup 2026.” $655 million of that amount would be awarded as prize money to eligible countries.

In the extended competition, nations placed between “33rd and 48th place” will each get $9 million, while the runners-up will receive $33 million. Each participating team will receive $1.5 million for “preparation costs,” meaning that each country would receive at least $10.5 million.

According to a prior update to its forecasts, FIFA expects record revenues throughout the four-year cycle that concludes with the World Cup the following year.

The governing body anticipates receiving $13 billion between 2022 and 2026, up from $7.5 billion during the four years leading up to 2022 (an increase from $6.4 billion during the previous cycle).

The governing body attributed a large portion of the growth to the World Cup’s expansion and the men’s Club World Cup, which was held in the United States last summer.

Following considerable criticism of FIFA’s initial pricing last week, the organisation also confirmed on Tuesday that $60 (£45) tickets would be available in the allotment. National associations can sell these to their most devoted fans.

Also read: FIFA introduces NEW £45 ticket for 2026 World Cup amid criticism

How much each nation will get for preparation costs?

They will get $1.5 million.

How much will the runners-up get?

They will get $33 million.

When is the 2026 World Cup starting?

It will start from 11th June.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.