The team that lifts the trophy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will earn $50 million in prize money, as part of the largest financial payout ever announced for the tournament by world football’s governing body.
FIFA revealed on Wednesday that the total prize pool for the competition will stand at $655 million (approximately 558.5 million euros), marking an increase of nearly 50 percent compared to the $440 million shared among teams at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The significant rise in prize money comes as the tournament itself undergoes major expansion. The 2026 edition, scheduled to take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, will feature 48 national teams for the first time, up from the 32 that competed in the previous tournament.
At the 2022 World Cup, Argentina earned $42 million after Lionel Messi led the South American nation to victory, defeating France on penalties in a dramatic final. France, who finished as runners-up, received $30 million for their campaign.
Under the new structure, the losing finalists at the 2026 tournament will take home $33 million, while the team that finishes third will be awarded $29 million. The other semi-finalist eliminated at that stage will receive $27 million.
Nations that fail to progress beyond the group stage will still earn $9 million for their participation. In addition, all 48 teams competing at the tournament will be given an extra $1.5 million each to cover “preparation costs,” according to FIFA.
The revised prize distribution underscores FIFA’s effort to reflect the expanded scale of the tournament while increasing financial incentives for participating nations at every stage of the competition.
What you should know
The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history, featuring 48 teams instead of the traditional 32.
To match this expansion, FIFA has significantly increased prize money, raising the total fund to $655 million. The champions will earn $50 million, while even teams eliminated early will receive substantial payouts. All participating countries will also get financial support for preparation costs.
The changes highlight FIFA’s push to reward wider participation and reflect the commercial growth of the tournament across three host nations.
