- FIFA plans to increase prize money and participation fees for the 2026 World Cup
- Higher costs in North America raised concerns among national football associations
- Travel, accommodation, and state taxes will increase expenses for participating teams
FIFA has agreed in principle to increase prize money and participation fees for the 2026 World Cup, following concerns raised by national associations over the cost of competing in North America, according to reports.
The revised financial package is expected to be finalised at the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday. The move comes after multiple federations, including the English FA and major European bodies, warned that the current structure could leave teams at a financial loss.
The concerns are centred around significantly higher operational expenses. Travel and accommodation across the United States, Canada, and Mexico are expected to be far costlier than the compact setup of Qatar 2022.
FIFA has not secured blanket tax exemptions for participating teams, meaning associations will be subject to varying state tax rates across host cities, ranging from 0% in Florida to 13.3% in California.
Several federations had indicated to FIFA they would need to reach at least the semi-finals to break even. Teams eliminated in earlier rounds risked incurring losses.
FIFA's strong financial position has allowed it to respond. The organisation is projecting around $13 billion in revenue for the 2023–2026 cycle, including $9 billion from the 2026 World Cup alone, enabling the world football governing body to increase the existing $727 million prize pool announced in December 2025.
The winner's prize, previously set at $50 million, is expected to rise, while the minimum payout of $10.5 million per team, which includes a $1.5 million preparation allowance distributed to teams, is also under review.
Beyond the tournament prize pool, FIFA is set to also increase its wider financial support for the development of the sport. Funding for its “FIFA Forward” development programme will be expanded, while payments to continental confederations are also expected to rise above the previously planned $60 million allocation.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest edition in history, with the tournament expanded to an unprecedented 48-team format and a record 104 matches to be played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It will also mark the first time the competition is hosted by three nations, significantly widening its geographical footprint and commercial scale.
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