FIFA announces World Cup winner to receive $50m

FIFA has announced that the winners of the 2026 World Cup will receive $50 million, part of a record $655 million total prize fund for the tournament

The prize pool represents nearly a 50 percent increase compared with the $440 million distributed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The 2026 tournament, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, will be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada and will feature 48 teams for the first time, up from 32 in the previous edition.

At the 2022 World Cup, Argentina earned $42 million after Lionel Messi led them to victory over France in a penalty shootout, while the runners-up France received $30 million.

For 2026, the losing finalists will receive $33 million, third-place finishers $29 million, and the other semi-finalists $27 million. Teams eliminated in the group stage will earn $9 million each, and all 48 participating nations will receive an additional $1.5 million to cover preparation costs.

FIFA highlighted that the expanded tournament aims to be the largest and most financially rewarding World Cup in history, reflecting the increased number of teams and the growing global interest in football.