The winner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to receive a record $50 million prize, marking a 50% increase from the $42 million awarded to Argentina in 2022. The announcement was made by FIFA following a council meeting in Doha, Qatar. This substantial increase in prize money underscores FIFA's commitment to elevating the tournament's financial contribution to the global football community.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, expanded from the previous 32. This expansion has led to an increase in the total prize pool, with FIFA earmarking $655 million to be distributed among the participating nations. In addition to the prize money, each of the 48 teams will receive $1.5 million to cover preparation costs, guaranteeing a minimum payout of $10.5 million for each participating nation. Overall, FIFA will distribute $727 million as a result of the 2026 World Cup.
The prize money distribution is tiered, rewarding teams for their performance throughout the tournament. The runner-up will receive $33 million, while the teams finishing in third and fourth place will be awarded $29 million and $27 million, respectively. Teams ranked between 5th and 8th will each receive $19 million, those ranked 9th to 16th will get $15 million, and teams finishing between 17th and 32nd place will take home $11 million each. All teams eliminated in the group stage (33rd to 48th place) will receive $9 million.
The 2026 World Cup will feature a new format with 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to a new round of 32. From there, the tournament will follow a single-elimination knockout stage, culminating in the final match on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The final will be worth $17 million on its own, as that is the difference between first and second prize. The champion will play a total of eight matches, one more than in previous 32-team tournaments.
FIFA anticipates record revenues over the four-year cycle ending with the 2026 World Cup, projecting $13 billion in earnings, up from $7.5 billion in the previous cycle. Much of this growth is attributed to the expansion of the World Cup and the men's Club World Cup.
The increased prize money and expanded format have generated excitement. However, there has also been criticism regarding ticket prices for the tournament. In response, FIFA has announced a limited number of discounted tickets for fans of participating countries.
