2026 World Cup winner to earn record $50M

Field Level Media|published: Wed 17th December, 11:23 2025

Dec 18, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with fans after winning the 2022 World Cup final against France at Lusail Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images

FIFA will pay out a record $727 million to the 48 teams participating in the 2026 World Cup.

At its meeting in Doha, Qatar, the FIFA council agreed that $655 million of that pot will be paid as prize money, the organization confirmed Wednesday. The remainder will be given to participants -- $1.5 million each -- to pay preparation costs for the North American tournament.

That's a 50% increase in prize money from the 2022 World Cup.

"The FIFA World Cup 2026 will also be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The winning nation will receive $50 million, with $33 million going to the losing finalist. Teams that do not make it out of the group stage of the World Cup will receive $9 million, with the payout rising as teams progress in the tournament.

Argentina received $42 million when it won the World Cup in 2022. Forty years before that, Italy took home $2.2 million for winning the 1982 event.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will start June 11 in Mexico City when South Korea meets co-host Mexico.

--Field Level Media

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