FIFA raises the 2026 World Cup winner’s prize to USD 50 million

FIFA has announced that the 2026 World Cup winner will receive an unprecedented USD 50 million — reflecting a 50% increase in the tournament’s total prize money. The decision was taken at a FIFA Council meeting in Doha.

Prize money details

Total prize money: USD 727 million
Teams’ performance-based share: USD 655 million
Winner: USD 50 million
Runner-up: USD 33 million
Third place: USD 29 million
Fourth place: USD 27 million
Quarter-final losers: USD 19 million
Minimum per team: USD 10.5 million, including USD 1.5 million in preparation costs
At least USD 9 million for group-stage exits

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Argentina received USD 42 million for winning.

Controversy over ticket prices

The prize increase was announced amid sharp criticism of ticket prices. The 2026 World Cup takes place in June and July in the US, Canada and Mexico.

The cheapest final ticket initially cost more than USD 4,185
Following one team from the first match to the final was estimated to cost at least USD 6,900
FIFA’s 2018 bid had promised tickets from USD 21

In response to protests, FIFA said it will offer a limited number of USD 60 tickets for each of the 104 matches, but these cover only 10% of each national federation’s allocation and are very limited. Football Supporters Europe called the move inadequate, saying most fans will still have to pay very high prices.