The winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive a record $51 million in prize money, along with the World Cup trophy, championship rings for the first time and a place in sporting history.
FIFA has increased the tournament's total prize fund to a record $871 million for the expanded 48-team World Cup, up from $440 million for the 32-team tournament in Qatar in 2022. The governing body added more than $100 million in April after several European football federations sought additional financial support, citing the higher travel and accommodation costs of a tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
European rights body raises World Cup integrity concerns, urges FIFA reforms before 2030
The runners-up will receive $34 million, while third-placed England and fourth-placed France will earn $30 million and $28 million, respectively. Quarter-finalists will receive $20 million each, Round of 16 teams $16 million, Round of 32 teams $12 million, and teams eliminated in the group stage $10 million.
Every participating federation is guaranteed at least $12.5 million, comprising $10 million for qualifying and competing in the group stage and $2.5 million to cover pre-tournament training and preparation costs. FIFA said the upfront payments were designed to avoid disputes between players and national associations over unpaid bonuses before tournaments.
The governing body also covers business-class return flights, accommodation and meals for a 50-member delegation, including players, beginning five nights before a team's opening match until one night after its elimination. FIFA also pays for domestic transport, including a dedicated vehicle fleet and equipment truck. National federations, however, remain responsible for insurance, incidental hotel expenses and accommodation for additional delegation members.
Although the $51 million winners' prize is the largest in World Cup history, it remains lower than the reported transfer fee recently paid by English club Brighton for Croatian teenager Luka Vušković and below the $115 million earned by Chelsea for winning the expanded FIFA Club World Cup last year.
The original FIFA World Cup trophy is not permanently awarded. Instead, the champions receive a gold-plated replica to keep. Prize money is paid to national federations rather than players, with each federation deciding how it is distributed. Under a landmark 2022 agreement, US Soccer retains 20% of its prize money, while the remaining 80% is shared equally between the men's and women's national teams.