FIFA raises World Cup team payouts to record $871 million
FIFA 2026 World Cup payouts hit $871 million, the richest prize pool yet See how every team benefits and what the record funding means for the tournament
FIFA has increased the amount distributed to teams at the 2026 World Cup to $871 million, making it the most lucrative edition of the tournament so far. The decision was announced at the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver, Canada, ahead of the event scheduled to begin in June across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Each participating association will now receive an additional $2 million, with preparation money rising to $2.5 million and qualification money set at $10 million. That means teams will get at least $12.5 million once they qualify, before any extra prize money linked to results in the tournament.
The higher payouts come as FIFA faces criticism over ticket pricing and other commercial issues. The 2026 tournament will expand to 48 teams, and FIFA said it has also set aside more than $16 million for delegation costs and team ticket allocations. The organization reported strong demand for tickets, while fans have complained about dynamic pricing and high resale values.