FIFA announces record prize money for the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA revealed on Wednesday that it will distribute $655 million among the 48 teams participating in the 2026 World Cup. This amount ($559 million) represents a 50 percent increase compared to the total paid out ($440 million) at the 2022 World Cup.

The prize money for the champion will increase from $42 million (€36M) to $50 million (approximately €43M), and all other prizes (runner-up, third place, fourth place, 5th to 8th, 9th to 16th and 17th to 32nd place) will also receive more generous prizes.

The teams ranked between 33rd and 48th place = it should be remembered that this World Cup will have 16 more teams than the editions held since 1998 =will be entitled to receive 9 million dollars (€7.7M), which explains a large part of the increase in prize money.

Furthermore, the FIFA Council approved new tables for preparation costs (rising from $1.3 million to $1.5 million), bringing the total to be distributed among all participants in the 2026 World Cup to $727 million. 

Prize money paid to national teams at the 2026 World Cup (48 countries)

Champion: $50 million (€42.7 million)

Runner-up: $33 million (€28.1M)

3rd place: 29 million dollars (€44.7M)

4th place: 27 million dollars (€16.2M)

5th to 8th place: $19 million (€16.2M)

9th to 16th place: $15 million (€12.8M)

17th to 32nd place: $11 million (€9.4M)

33rd to 48th place: $9 million (€9.7M)

Prize money paid to national teams at the 2022 World Cup (32 countries)

Champion: 42 million dollars

Runner-up: $30 million

3rd place: 27 million dollars

4th place: 25 million dollars

5th to 8th place: 17 million dollars

9th to 16th place: 13 million dollars

17th to 32nd place: 9 million dollars