The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada in less than six months, and organizers FIFA have confirmed how much money each country will earn from the tournament.
FIFA has set aside £490 million in prize money for next summer’s World Cup. The latest edition of the tournament will begin within six months and the draws have already taken place.
There are still some eligibility issues to sort out before the World Cup begins, but FIFA has confirmed how much prize money each country will be eligible to win. Organizers have set aside a total prize pot of $655 million (£490 million).
This represents a 50% increase in the amount available to each team at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Each team is guaranteed at least £1.1 million ($1.5 million) in participation fees, with teams 33rd to 48th charging £6.7 million ($9 million).
Countries ranked 17th to 32nd can claim $11 million, while countries ranked 9th to 16th will receive $15 million. The fourth-place team in the tournament will secure $27 million, and the third-place team at the World Cup will secure $29 million, but the amounts will increase in stages.
read more: FIFA launches discounted tickets for all World Cup matches for just £45 per matchread more: Gary Lineker earns millions in new World Cup contract as BBC pay plummets
The numbers become even more impressive when it comes to the two finalists. The losing finalist will keep around 24.7 million pounds (about $33 million), while the winner will take home 37.4 million pounds (about $50 million) with the trophy.
FIFA’s announcement regarding the tournament’s prize money came amid heavy criticism of its ticket pricing strategy. FIFA has come under fire from fans for its exorbitant prices, with the cheapest tickets for the final expected to cost around £4,000.
This forced organizers to make a dramatic change of direction, with around 10% of each country’s allocation reduced to around £45 per ticket. A FIFA spokesperson issued a statement: “Fans of national teams that have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will benefit from a dedicated ticket price range designed to make it more affordable to watch their teams on soccer’s greatest stage.
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“The newly introduced supporter entry slot will be available for each of the 104 matches, including the final, at a fixed price of $60 per ticket.”
The World Cup will begin on June 11, 2026, with co-hosts Mexico scheduled to play South Africa in the tournament’s opening match. England will have to wait a few days before the tournament begins, with the Three Lions’ opening game scheduled for June 17 against Croatia in Arlington.
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