FIFA has announced that the winning national association of the upcoming World Cup will receive a prize of $50 million. This is part of a total prize pool of $727 million that will be distributed among the 48 teams participating in the tournament taking place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next year.
The lead-up to the 2026 World Cup has been marred by disputes regarding the high ticket prices, prompting FIFA to lower the prices of select tickets following a significant backlash from fans worldwide. Some tickets are now available for as little as $60.
Despite the adjustments to ticket prices, FIFA revealed a historic prize fund during the FIFA Council meeting in Doha, Qatar. The overall $727 million fund includes $655 million allocated to teams based on their performance, with $9 million awarded to teams eliminated in the group stage and $33 million for the runners-up, in addition to the $50 million for the champions.
Argentina took home $42 million after clinching their third World Cup title with a penalty shootout win over France in the 2022 Qatar tournament. France had previously won the 2018 World Cup and received $38 million in prize money. FIFA has been publicly announcing prize amounts for World Cup winners since it awarded Italy $2.2 million in 1982.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off on June 11, starting with co-hosts Mexico facing South Korea in Mexico City.