The champion of the 2026 World Cup will receive a historic $50 million US prize, while all 48 participating teams will earn a minimum of $10.5 million each. This amount marks an increase from $42 million in 2022 and $38 million in 2018 but remains below the prize money offered at the Club World Cup held earlier this year.
FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, announced that the total prize fund for the 2026 World Cup, hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, amounts to $655 million, representing a 50% rise from the previous edition in Qatar. Despite Canada’s failure to advance beyond the group stage in Qatar, the country received $9 million in prize money.
This financial boost is significant for Canada Soccer, which reported revenues of $37.5 million Cdn in 2024. As a co-host, Canada is set to benefit from an undisclosed legacy amount from the tournament, part of which will be utilized for a national training center.
During a meeting preceding the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar, the FIFA Council disclosed that a record $727 million US would be distributed for the 104-game sporting event. Of this amount, $655 million will be allocated as prize money among the participating teams, with the runner-up earning $33 million and the third and fourth-place finishers receiving $29 million and $27 million, respectively. Teams placing from 33rd to 48th will each receive $9 million in prize money.
Furthermore, each qualified team is set to receive $1.5 million to cover preparation costs. This announcement follows widespread criticism of FIFA for high ticket prices at the World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that the financial contribution of this World Cup to the global football community would be groundbreaking.
In a separate initiative, FIFA allocated $152 million to the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, a considerable increase compared to previous tournaments. Of this amount, $110 million was designated as prize money for the 32 participating teams. With the expanded 2026 edition, FIFA projects a record revenue of $13 billion for 2023-26, a significant rise from the initial budget approved by the FIFA Congress in 2023.
Victor Montagliani, FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president, noted that a substantial portion of this revenue, around 80 to 85%, will be redistributed to the 211 member associations, benefiting a vast number of countries globally.