FIFA Council to consider increased prize money and fees for 2026 World Cup
Proposal to boost financial contributions for all 48 nations must be ratified at the upcoming meeting in Vancouver
Football's global governing body is currently engaged in discussions with national associations to increase prize money and participation fees for all 48 teams competing in the 2026 World Cup. The initiative aims to address specific cost concerns raised by European associations regarding the financial burden of participating in the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The proposal, which seeks to cover rising expenses related to travel, operations, and taxes, requires formal approval at the FIFA Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Vancouver. This council session will take place prior to the 76th FIFA Congress, where the final ratification of the financial package is expected to be determined.
FIFA confirmed that the world governing body is in its strongest ever financial position to support the global game, projecting revenue for the 2023 to 2026 cycle to surpass $11 billion. This financial strength is attributed to the success of the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup held in the US last year, which helped secure 93 percent of the total budgeted revenue by the end of 2025.
The current funding framework, announced in December, established a record prize fund of $727 million. Under this structure, the winning team would receive $50 million, while each of the 48 participating nations was guaranteed at least $10.5 million. The initial package also included $655 million in performance-based payments and an additional $1.5 million per nation to cover preparation costs.
A FIFA spokesperson stated that the proposed increase includes financial contributions to all qualified teams for the 2026 tournament, alongside development funding for all 211 member associations. The organisation emphasises that the World Cup 2026 will be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community through the FIFA Forward programme.
The tournament is scheduled to run from 11 June to 19 July. While the specific final figures for the increased prize money and fees remain undetermined, the discussions reflect a commitment to ensuring all participating nations are adequately supported given the logistical challenges of the North American host nation.
