2026 FIFA Men's World Cup Reveals Historic Prize Money Pool, Up 50% from 2022

The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup will feature a record prize money payout.

FIFA announced on Wednesday that the total prize pool will be $655 million, an increase of 50 percent from the 2022 tournament.

Here is a breakdown of the payouts based on how teams finish:

• World Cup Champion: $50 million
• Runners-Up: $33 million
• Third Place: $29 million
• Fourth Place: $27 million
• Quarterfinalists: $19 million
• Round of 16: $15 million
• Round of 32: $11 million
• Teams 33-48: $9 million

In addition to the pool money, FIFA is also giving all 48 clubs in the field $1.5 million in preparation costs. Combined with the $9 million minimum prize payout, each club is guaranteed a minimum of $10.5 million.

"The FIFA World Cup 2026 will also be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement included with the announcement.

Approval from the FIFA Council for the record-breaking payout comes after the organization previously released a revised budget for the four-year period that includes a projected $13 billion in total revenue from 2023 to '26.

For comparison, the previous four-year World Cup cycle from 2019 to '22 brought in a then-record $7.6 billion in revenue.

The Athletic's Adam Crafton noted the increased prize money is built in part on the dramatic increase in ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup.

"Ticket prices released by FIFA last week for the tournament in 2026 were, on average, 174 per cent higher than projected in the official bid book submitted by the joint proposal from the United States, Canada and Mexico to soccer's world governing body back in 2018," wrote Crafton.

FIFA announced on Tuesday it was reducing the cost for certain tickets down to $60 amid fan response to the initial high prices.

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19. Mexico will take on South Africa at Estadio Azteca in the opening match.

Argentina, the reigning World Cup champion, will begin defense of its title against Algeria on June 16.