FIFA has confirmed it will raise World Cup prize money by 50% for the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The decision follows criticism over high ticket prices for the competition. The increased payouts form the majority of a record $727m (£544.8m) financial distribution approved by FIFA’s council in connection with the event.
The World Cup champions will earn $50m (£37.4m), while the runners-up will receive $33m (£24.7m). Teams eliminated at the group stage will be awarded $9m (£6.7m).
Each nation that qualifies will also be given $1.5m (£1.1m) to help cover preparation costs, ensuring all participating member associations receive at least $10.5m (£7.8m).
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the payments demonstrated that the tournament would be “groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community”. FIFA has already projected record external revenues of $13bn (£9.7bn) for the 2023–2026 cycle.
The announcement came a day after FIFA released a limited number of £45 tickets for all 104 World Cup matches, following backlash over its original ticket pricing.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the Football Supporters’ Association, said the record prize fund showed there was “no shortage of money associated with the World Cup”.
“It is not too late for FIFA to avoid the catastrophic mistake of undermining what makes the World Cup special. Action must be taken now.”
The partial reversal was welcomed by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who nevertheless urged FIFA to go further in making tickets more affordable for fans.
FIFA’s council also approved the creation of a post-conflict recovery fund, aligned with its stated aim of promoting football’s unifying values. The organisation said the decision followed an announcement by president Gianni Infantino at the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace on 13 October 2025, where he outlined plans to establish a support mechanism for regions affected by conflict.
FIFA said the fund will be open to contributions from third parties and will operate under strict oversight. It will complement existing measures delivered through the FIFA Forward Programme and other FIFA initiatives.
