On December 17, FIFA confirmed a historic $727 million funding package for next summer’s World Cup, with $655 million set aside as prize money and the eventual champion earning $50 million.
FIFA Official Announcement:
The FIFA Council convened in Doha, Qatar, ahead of the Intercontinental Cup finals, where key resolutions were taken on the growth and administration of youth football.
Building on the excitement from the World Cup finals draw held in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2025, the Council approved the unprecedented $727 million financial support package for the 2026 World Cup.
The bulk of the allocation—$655 million, representing a 50 percent increase compared to the previous tournament—will be shared among the 48 qualified teams as prize money, broken down as follows:
Champion: $50 million
Runner-up: $33 million
3rd Place: $29 million
4th Place: $27 million
5th–8th Place: $19 million
9th–16th Place: $15 million
17th–32nd Place: $11 million
33rd–48th Place: $9 million
Additionally, each participating nation will receive $1.5 million in preparation funding, ensuring that every member association earns a minimum of $10.5 million from the competition.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the development as historic, saying, “The 2026 World Cup will also be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to global football.”
