FIFA ANNOUNCE INCREASE ON WORLD CUP PRIZES BY 50% FOR 2026
The prize money that FIFA will give to participating teams in the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year has been increased by 50%. It coincides with complaints over the cost of tournament tickets. As a result of the event, the governing body's council approved a record $727 million (£544.8 million) in financial distribution, of which the payout makes up the majority.
$50 million (£37.4 million) will go to the World Cup champions, while $33 million (£24.7 million) will go to the runners-up. $9 million (£6.7 million) will be awarded to those who do not advance past the group stage.
Additionally, each eligible team will get $1.5 million (£1.1 million) to cover preparation expenses, guaranteeing at least $10.5 million (£7.8 million) for each participating member association. Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, stated that the World Cup would "be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community" based on the payments. For the 2023–2026 cycle, the organisation has already projected record external revenues of $13 billion (£9.7 billion).
The news was made the day after FIFA responded to criticism of its World Cup pricing structure by introducing a limited quantity of £45 tickets for all 104 matches.
"The record prize fund shows there is no shortage of money associated with the World Cup," stated Tom Greatrex, chair of the Football Supporters' Association. "It is not too late for Fifa to avoid the catastrophic error of all but killing what is special about the World Cup. They should act now." Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, applauded the partial climbdown but urged Fifa to do more to lower ticket prices.
Zohran Mamdani, the incoming mayor of New York City, has also criticised Fifa, stating that "a $60 'supporter ticket' for 1.6% of seats isn't enough." Not after FIFA recently established the highest World Cup ticket prices ever. Thousands of people voiced their demands that this event be affordable for New Yorkers.
"What we really need is to cap resale prices, put aside 15% of tickets for local fans at a discount, and halt dynamic pricing. Everyone must be able to play the lovely game."A post-conflict recovery fund was also approved by FIFA's council "in line with [its] objective of promoting football's unifying values." It stated that this followed "the announcement made by President Infantino at the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace on 13 October 2025 that Fifa intended to create a support mechanism for regions that have experienced conflict" .