Calls come amid consideration of high costs of playing the tournament in North America
Uefa is pushing for an increase in World Cup prize money and financial support for national teams, amid growing concerns from European federations over the high cost of competing at this summer’s tournament in North America.
Multiple sources say several European associations have asked Uefa to raise the issue with Fifa, which is responsible for organising the competition. The world football governing body is expecting the tournament to generate more than $11bn in revenue after the high costs of tickets in this edition.
Fifa has committed to reinvesting at least 90 percent of its budgeted funds from the World Cup cycle back into global football. However, federations say there is still little clarity on how that money will be distributed and are calling for a larger share of the revenue.
European associations are concerned that the cost of participation, including travel, accommodation, training facilities and player bonuses, could outweigh their earnings from the tournament. Some fear they could even incur losses, particularly if they do not progress to the latter stages.
Fifa currently provides $1.5m in preparation funding for each team, along with contributions toward accommodation, travel and training costs for a delegation of up to 50 people. Additional expenses, including larger delegations and insurance, must be covered by the associations themselves. Many leading nations travel with significantly more staff and players, increasing their overall costs.
There are also concerns about the high cost of staging training camps in the US, where some federations have been quoted between $25,000 and $50,000 per day for facilities. Travel and accommodation expenses across host cities are also considered expensive.
Taxation has emerged as another issue. With matches spread across different US states, teams could face varying tax rates depending on where they play. States such as California and New Jersey are among the highest, while others like Florida and Texas do not impose state taxes.
Fifa has begun providing guidance on tax implications, and one proposal under consideration is increased financial support for teams playing more games in higher-tax locations.
Prize money for the 2026 tournament has already been increased to $655m from the $440m distributed in 2022. However, the expansion of the competition from 32 to 48 teams means the funds will be distributed more widely. The winners will receive $50m, runners-up $33m, quarter-finalists $19m and group-stage teams $9m. Including preparation funding, each nation is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
Despite the increase, several associations believe it is not enough to offset the rising costs of participation. Discussions between FIFA and national federations are expected to continue, with the issue set to be addressed at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver in May.
