The winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will receive $50 million in prize money, as part of a record-breaking financial package announced by world football’s governing body on Wednesday.
FIFA confirmed that the total prize fund for the 2026 tournament will reach $655 million (around €558.5 million), marking an increase of nearly 50 percent compared to the $440 million distributed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be held from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will also be the largest in history. For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams, up from 32 in the previous edition, representing a 50 percent expansion.
At the 2022 World Cup, Argentina earned $42 million after Lionel Messi led the team to a dramatic final victory over France on penalties. France, as runners-up, received $30 million. Under the new structure, the team finishing second in 2026 will earn $33 million.
FIFA also detailed prize amounts for other top finishers. The third-placed team will receive $29 million, while the losing semi-finalists will take home $27 million each. Teams eliminated at the group stage will still earn $9 million.
In addition, all 48 participating nations will receive an extra $1.5 million each to help cover preparation and operational costs ahead of the tournament.
FIFA said the expanded prize money reflects the larger format of the competition and its commitment to redistributing revenue across the global football ecosystem, making the 2026 World Cup the most financially rewarding edition in the tournament’s history.
