The winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take home $50 million in prize money, according to a record payout structure announced by FIFA on Wednesday, December 17.
World football’s governing body revealed that the total prize pool for the tournament will reach $655 million—an increase of nearly 50 percent from the $440 million shared at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The rise in prize money reflects the expanded format of the 2026 competition, which will feature 48 teams for the first time, up from 32 in previous editions. The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
At the 2022 World Cup, Argentina earned $42 million after Lionel Messi inspired his team to a dramatic penalty shootout victory over France in the final, while the runners-up received $30 million.
Under the new structure, the 2026 runners-up will be awarded $33 million. The third-place team will receive $29 million, and the other losing semi-finalist will collect $27 million.
FIFA also confirmed that each team eliminated at the group stage will earn $9 million. Additionally, all 48 participating nations will receive an extra $1.5 million to cover preparation costs.
The announcement underscores FIFA’s increased financial commitment to the expanded tournament, which is expected to be the largest World Cup ever in terms of participation and global reach.
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