Fifa has agreed in principle to increase prize money and participation fees for the 2026 World Cup, responding to concerns from national associations about high costs. The enhanced funding will be approved at a Fifa Council meeting in Vancouver this week.
Several national associations, including the English FA, raised worries that travel, operations and tax costs in the US would leave them out of pocket even with a successful tournament. Fifa had announced a record $727m prize fund last December, with winners receiving $50m, but this will now be increased.
Development funding for all 211 member associations will also rise from the projected $2.7bn over the next four-year cycle. Each association was due $5m, with confederations receiving $60m each, but these payments will increase.
Fifa projects revenues of $13bn in the current cycle, with $9bn from the tournament alone. Its strong financial position has enabled the increases. The 2025 annual report showed $11.67bn would be redistributed to global football development, a 20% rise on the previous cycle.
European federations had petitioned Fifa to boost the prize fund, arguing that merit payments only increased incrementally. Under the initial plan, an extra $2m was paid for reaching the last 32, $4m for the last 16, and $8m for the quarter-finals, with the biggest leap for semi-finalists and finalists. Many said they would lose money unless they reached the last four.
Tax burdens also varied significantly, with no state tax in Florida but rates of 10.75% in New Jersey and 13.3% in California. Fifa could not negotiate tax exemptions for the 48 qualifiers as in previous tournaments.
