Decision to increase the prize pool follows complaints from several national federations about the high cost of taking part in the tournament
Fifa has increased the financial package for teams competing at the 2026 World Cup, committing an additional $112m amid concerns over the rising cost of participation.
The decision means each of the 48 teams will receive an extra $2m in addition to the previous $10.5m. The added sum is split evenly between $1m in preparation funding and $1m as a guaranteed participation fee. Fifa will also subsidise certain expenses for federations, including team delegation costs and ticket allocations, to the tune of $16m.
Overall, total payments to participating teams will rise to $871m, up from the roughly $755m previously set in December.
The move was confirmed by the Fifa Council during a meeting ahead of Thursday’s Fifa Congress. In a statement, Fifa said the increase was made “given the commercial success of Fifa’s flagship men’s tournament, the World Cup”.
This 2026 edition, to be hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico, is expected to generate a record $11bn in revenue after Fifa raised the cost of tickets and introduced a dynamic pricing system. This edition will also be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, expanding from the previous format of 32 teams and 64 games, which means more revenue.
Fifa’s decision to increase the prize pool follows complaints from several national federations about the high cost of taking part in the tournament. Rising expenses, especially in the US where costs and tax rates are extremely high, had raised concerns that some teams could struggle to turn a profit.
Some European federations had asked Uefa to push for higher prize money, although Fifa sources have previously said the increase was not a response to lobbying.
The additional funds will be distributed evenly among all teams, regardless of how far they progress in the competition. It means that any team that participates in the World Cup will receive a guaranteed $12.5m. This does not include performance-based prize money.
Fifa already covers certain expenses such as accommodation and meals for up to 50 people per team, internal travel between venues, and costs of renting a training site. However, any additional expenses will be covered by the federation itself.
