The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be a game-changer in terms of the global football economy.
To begin with, there will be 48 teams instead of 32 and the tournament will be held in an innovative tri-nation format with the United States, Canada and Mexico jointly hosting. Moreover, there is unprecedented commercial interest. Therefore, FIFA has decided to offer the biggest prize money pot ever. The stakes will be sky-high. It will be obvious that every fixture will not only have great sporting excitement but also major financial rewards.
The total amount to be spent on the tournament will be as high as $727 million: this was one of the announcements made by FIFA to the Council. Out of this total, $655 million will be solely dedicated to the prize pool of the competition, with 48 teams sharing the money based on the results achieved on the pitch. The sum is way above the $440 million which was given out at the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar and it is the new marker of the highest standard for the game’s main event.
But what would be the distribution of the prize money in the end? Here is the complete rundown of the 2026 FIFA World Cup prize money from the winners holding the trophy to the teams that got eliminated in the group stage.
🏆 Total Prize Money Pool
FIFA has now confirmed the most lucrative financial package in World Cup history:
- Total FIFA financial contribution: $727 million
- Total prize money for teams: $655 million
- Preparation fee per team: $1.5 million
- Guaranteed minimum per team: $10.5 million
In other words, simply reaching the World Cup will be worth eight figures. Even a team that fails to win a match and exits at the group stage will walk away with at least $10.5 million.
The numbers reflect the scale of what FIFA is building in North America. With a record 104 matches, massive U.S. television contracts and unprecedented global sponsorship revenue, the 2026 World Cup is on track to become the most commercially valuable tournament FIFA has ever staged.
💰 2026 FIFA World Cup Prize Money Breakdown
Here is how FIFA will distribute the record-breaking prize money at the 2026 World Cup:
| Final Position | Prize Money (USD) |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Champions | $50 million |
| 🥈 Runner-up | $33 million |
| 🥉 Third place | $29 million |
| 4th place | $27 million |
| 5th – 8th place (4 Teams) | $19 million |
| 9th – 16th place (8 Teams) | $15 million |
| 17th – 32nd place (16 Teams) | $11 million |
| 33rd – 48th place (16 Teams) | $9 million |
On top of that, every qualified nation will receive a $1.5 million preparation payment, pushing the guaranteed minimum payout to $10.5 million per team.
In short, simply reaching the World Cup has never carried a bigger financial reward.
💵 2026 World Cup Prize Money in Other Currencies
The total financial contribution for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has climbed to a record $727 million. But what does that figure mean in your local currency?
Converted from USD using exchange rates published on 16 February 2026.
| Currency | Winner Prize | Total Prize |
|---|---|---|
 United States Dollar (USD) | $50.00 Million | $727.00 Million |
 Euro (EUR) | €42.15 Million | €612.86 Million |
 British Pound Sterling (GBP) | £36.65 Million | £532.89 Million |
 Japanese Yen (JPY) | ¥7.64 Billion | ¥111.11 Billion |
 Swiss Franc (CHF) | CHF 38.45 Million | CHF 559.06 Million |
 Indian Rupee (INR) | ₹453.4 Crore | ₹6,591.7 Crore |
 Pakistani Rupee (PKR) | ₨1,398.3 Crore | ₨20,331.3 Crore |
 Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) | ৳611.9 Crore | ৳8,896.3 Crore |
 Australian Dollar (AUD) | A$71.00 Million | A$1.03 Billion |
 Canadian Dollar (CAD) | C$68.00 Million | C$988.72 Million |
 Brazilian Real (BRL) | R$ 261.00 Million | R$ 3.79 Billion |
 Mexican Peso (MXN) | MX$ 859.00 Million | MX$ 12.49 Billion |
 South Korean Won (KRW) | ₩72.10 Billion | ₩1,048.30 Billion |
 South African Rand (ZAR) | R 798.00 Million | R 11.60 Billion |
 Nigerian Naira (NGN) | ₦67.69 Billion | ₦984.21 Billion |
 Egyptian Pound (EGP) | £2.34 Billion | £34.05 Billion |
 Moroccan Dirham (MAD) | DH 457.00 Million | DH 6.64 Billion |
 Ghanaian Cedi (GHS) | ₵549.50 Million | ₵7.99 Billion |
 Qatari Riyal (QAR) | ر.ق 182.00 Million | ر.ق 2.65 Billion |
 Singapore Dollar (SGD) | S$63.00 Million | S$916.02 Million |
 United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) | د.إ 183.50 Million | د.إ 2.67 Billion |
 Saudi Riyal (SAR) | ﷼ 187.50 Million | ﷼ 2.73 Billion |
 Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) | KD 15.30 Million | KD 222.46 Million |
 Chinese Yuan (CNY) | ¥345.50 Million | ¥5.02 Billion |
 Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) | HK$391.00 Million | HK$5.69 Billion |
 Thai Baht (THB) | ฿1.55 Billion | ฿22.60 Billion |
 Argentine Peso (ARS) | AR$ 72.61 Billion | AR$ 1,055.79 Billion |
 Colombian Peso (COP) | COL$ 183.48 Billion | COL$ 2,667.76 Billion |
 Swedish Krona (SEK) | kr 446.50 Million | kr 6.49 Billion |
 Polish Zloty (PLN) | zł 177.50 Million | zł 2.58 Billion |
 Norwegian Krone (NOK) | kr 476.00 Million | kr 6.92 Billion |
 Danish Krone (DKK) | kr 314.50 Million | kr 4.57 Billion |
 Czech Koruna (CZK) | Kč 1.02 Billion | Kč 14.86 Billion |
 Hungarian Forint (HUF) | Ft 15.98 Billion | Ft 232.28 Billion |
 New Zealand Dollar (NZD) | NZ$83.00 Million | NZ$1.21 Billion |
 Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) | Rp 841.64 Billion | Rp 12,237.44 Billion |
 Russian Ruble (RUB) | RUB 3.86 Billion | RUB 56.09 Billion |
 Turkish Lira (TRY) | ₺2.19 Billion | ₺31.78 Billion |
⚽ How Much Will Players Actually Earn?
FIFA sends prize money to national football federations, not directly to players. Each country then decides how the money is shared among the squad.
- Most federations distribute between 30% and 50% of the prize money to players
- Captains and star players often earn extra performance bonuses
- Squad members usually receive equal base payments
If a team wins the World Cup and shares 40% of the $50 million prize, that’s $20 million divided among the squad — around $600,000 per player for a 26-man team.
For players from smaller nations, one good World Cup run can completely transform their careers and finances.
📊 2018 vs 2022 vs 2026 – How World Cup Prize Money Has Exploded
FIFA‘s World Cup prize funds have shot up the last three times the event has been held, mirroring the Sun exposure, commercial growth worldwide, in the football and game.
| Position | 2018 (Russia) | 2022 (Qatar) | 2026 (Official) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Champions | $38 million | $42 million | $50 million |
| 🥈 Runner-up | $28 million | $30 million | $33 million |
| 🥉 Third place | $24 million | $27 million | $29 million |
| 4th place | $22 million | $25 million | $27 million |
| 5th – 8th place | $16 million | $17 million | $19 million |
| 9th – 16th place | $12 million | $13 million | $15 million |
| 17th – 32nd place | $8 million | $9 million | $11 million |
| 33rd – 48th place | — | — | $9 million |
| Total | $400 million | $440 million | $727 million Including $72 million preparation fee |
In Russia 2018, the prize money pool total was 400 million dollars, which was increased by 10% to 440 million dollars at the Qatar 2022 edition. Now for 2026, FIFA has increased it to a whopping 655 million dollars in rewards for performance, a growth of more than 60 per cent in just eight years.
The 2026 World Cup will officially be the richest event in football history, with a guaranteed 10.5 million dollars for every qualified team and a record 50 million dollars reserved for the winners.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How much will the 2026 World Cup winner earn?
The winner will be rewarded with a record-breaking $50 million, the biggest payout ever to a World Cup champion.
Q2. Is this the largest prize pool in World Cup history?
Yes. FIFA will allocate a total of $655 million in prize money based on performance, the highest amount ever at the World Cup.
Q3. What is the earnings for each team just for qualifying?
Every qualified team is guaranteed at least $10.5 million, including the $1.5 million preparation payment.
Q4. Do players get this money straight?
No. The prize money is paid to the national federations, which then decide how to distribute it among players and staff.
Q5. Are host nations given extra prize money from FIFA?
No. FIFA does not award any extra prize money to host nations. The United States, Canada, and Mexico will receive the same performance-based payments as other teams. However, hosts benefit indirectly through ticket sales, sponsorship growth, tourism, and long-term infrastructure development, which can generate billions in economic impact.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will not only crown a champion — it will redefine the financial landscape of international football. With $655 million in prize money, guaranteed payouts for every qualified nation and the richest final in the sport’s history, this tournament is set to rewrite the economic story of the World Cup.
Want to follow every moment live in your local time? Explore our complete 2026 FIFA World Cup match schedule by time zone and make sure you never miss a kick.
