We are heading into a FIFA World Cup that looks very different from what fans are used to, and now the financial side of it could grow even further. Reports indicate that FIFA is exploring the possibility of increasing the prize money for the FIFA World Cup 2026, adding another layer to an edition that is already set to be the biggest yet.
The 2026 tournament, which will be hosted across United States, Mexico, and Canada, is expanding to 48 teams. That alone changes the scale of the competition, bringing in more nations and increasing the number of matches. Naturally, with that kind of growth, the financial structure is also under review.
When FIFA first announced the prize pool in December, the figure stood at $655 million. That was already a noticeable jump, around 50 percent higher than the previous World Cup. It also came alongside a broader $727 million commitment linked to the tournament. Now, discussions are ongoing about pushing that number even higher, with the idea set to be reviewed at the FIFA Council level.
A bigger FIFA World Cup, a bigger financial shift
The timing of this discussion isn’t random. FIFA is currently in a very strong financial position and is expected to generate more than $11 billion in revenue across the 2023 to 2026 cycle. A large share of that income has already been secured, helped by the commercial success of competitions like the expanded Club World Cup.
As things stand, the prize distribution is already significant. The FIFA World Cup winners are set to earn $50 million, while the runners-up will receive $33 million. Even teams that exit in the group stage are guaranteed $9 million, and every qualified nation is provided with an additional $1.5 million to help cover preparation costs.
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What stands out about the new proposal is that it’s not just about increasing rewards for the finalists. The focus appears to be on raising payouts across the board, ensuring that all 48 teams benefit from the tournament’s growing revenues.
There’s also a wider angle to this. FIFA has pointed out that increased revenues will continue to support development initiatives across its 211 member associations, meaning the impact goes beyond just the teams competing on the biggest stage.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was already expected to be a landmark edition because of its expanded format and shared hosting. If the prize money does go up again, it will reinforce how much the tournament is evolving, not just in size but in its financial reach as well.
At this point, the question isn’t whether the FIFA World Cup is getting bigger. That’s already clear. The real question is just how far its financial scale can grow from here.
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