FIFA has announced that the winning team of the 2026 World Cup will receive a record $50 million in prize money, marking the highest financial reward in the tournament’s history.
According to international reports, the total prize fund for the 2026 World Cup is $655 million, a nearly 50 percent increase over the $440 million distributed during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 2026 tournament, hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature 48 teams for the first time, up from 32 in the previous edition, and will run from June 11 to July 19.
In the last World Cup, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, earned $42 million after defeating France in a thrilling penalty shootout. France, as runners-up, received $30 million. Under the new prize structure, the 2026 runners-up will earn $33 million, the third-placed team $29 million, and the losing semi-finalists $27 million each.
Teams eliminated in the group stage will receive $9 million, and all 48 participating teams will receive an additional $1.5 million to cover preparation costs.
The record payouts reflect FIFA’s commitment to supporting national teams and increasing financial incentives as the World Cup expands to accommodate more teams and global audiences.
