Listen to this article
Approximately 3 minutes
The audio version of this article was created using artificial intelligence technology. Pronunciation errors may occur. We work with our partners to continually analyze and improve results.
The 2026 World Cup champion will take home a record $50 million, with each of the 48 participating teams receiving at least $10.5 million.
This figure increased from $42 million in 2022 and $38 million in 2018. But that's still less than half of what was on offer at the much less publicized Club World Cup earlier this year.
World soccer's governing body said the total prize fund for the World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, was $655 million, up 50 percent from the previous championship in Qatar.
Canada, which failed to advance from its group, collected $9 million in prize money in Qatar.
The money is welcome for Canada Soccer, which posted revenue of C$37.5 million in 2024. As co-organizer, Canada will also inherit an unspecified amount from the tournament and plans to use part of that amount at a national training facility.
The FIFA Council, meeting ahead of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar, announced that a record US$727 million will be distributed through an expanded 104-game sports showcase.
About $655 million of that amount will be paid out in prize money among the 48 participating teams.
The second-place player will receive $33 million, the third-place team will receive $29 million, and the fourth-place team will receive $27 million. Prize money drops to $9 million for teams finishing 33rd through 48th.
Prices for some resale tickets for next summer's World Cup matches in Toronto and Vancouver have fallen after FIFA announced the full tournament schedule over the weekend.
In addition, each qualifying team will receive $1.5 million to cover training costs.
The announcement comes amid widespread criticism of FIFA for inflating ticket prices for the tournament co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the World Cup would be “groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community.”
FIFA has committed $152 million to the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, three times more than the previous Women's World Cup in France in 2019 and more than 10 times the amount offered for the 2015 tournament in Canada.
Of this amount, $110 million was offered as prize money to the 32 participating teams.
With the expanded 2026 release, FIFA's projected revenue for 2023-2026 will be a record $13 billion, up from $10.9 billion in the original budget approved by the FIFA Congress in 2023.
FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani, a Vancouver native who also serves as CONCACAF president, says 80 to 85 percent of that amount comes from the 211 member associations.
“This tournament brings together 211 countries over the next four years,” he said.
