FIFA is set to increase the prize money and participation fees for the 48 nations competing at this summer’s World Cup.
The world governing body and World Cup organiser has confirmed that it is in talks with national associations over improved funding, with the proposals expected to be rubber-stamped at the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver on April 28.
In December, FIFA announced a record World Cup prize fund of $727million (£539m), with each of the 48 competing teams receiving a minimum of $10.5m and the winners pocketing $50m. Since then, discussions have continued with national associations with a view to reaching a resolution before the FIFA Congress on April 30.
On April 1, The Athletic reported that UEFA, European football’s governing body, was lobbying FIFA to increase World Cup prize money and overall financial support for federations competing at the tournament in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
UEFA was responding to concerns from several of its member associations about the substantial costs associated with these finals, including the price of travel, operations and tax in the U.S. in particular.
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But FIFA sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, insisted that the increase in prize money was not a reaction to UEFA’s lobbying, nor because the organisation had been put under pressure from elsewhere.
The sources said FIFA reached the decision independently – on the back of projected revenues of over $11billion (£8.15bn) from the tournament, which will run from June 11 to July 19.
FIFA is a not-for-profit organisation and earlier this month its president, Gianni Infantino, responded to criticism of high ticket prices at the tournament by insisting that all revenue generated would be returned to the game.
The increase in funding for competing teams comes after The Athletic reported on March 10 that FIFA had cut over $100m from its operating budget for the World Cup, with multiple departments at the organisation’s U.S. headquarters in Miami asked to make “efficiencies”.
These cutbacks have raised questions about the financial impact on fans and hosts cities, with many U.S. cities having already had to downscale their plans for the tournament over budgeting concerns.
The official FIFA Fan Fest slated by the New York/New Jersey host committee for Liberty State Park has been cancelled, Seattle has scaled back its plans, and of the other U.S. host cities, only Philadelphia and Houston are fulfilling the 39-day-long festival they originally signed up to organise.
A FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic: “Ahead of a FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver, Canada, on 28 April 2026, FIFA can confirm it is in discussions with associations around the world to increase available revenues.
“This includes a proposed increase of financial contributions to all qualified teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and of development funding available to all 211 member associations.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community and FIFA is proud to be in its strongest ever financial position to benefit the global game through its FIFA Forward programme.
“Subject to discussions, further details will be provided in due course.”
