On December 17, FIFA officially announced a record $727 million allocation for next summer's World Cup, of which $655 million will be used for prize money, with the champion receiving a $50 million prize.

FIFA Official Announcement: 

The FIFA Council met in Doha, Qatar, ahead of the Intercontinental Cup finals and made important decisions regarding the development and governance of youth football.

Following the high spirits surrounding the World Cup finals draw in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2025, the FIFA Council approved a record $727 million financial contribution, which will be allocated in support of the 2026 World Cup.

The largest portion—$655 million, a 50% increase from the previous edition—will be distributed as prize money among the 48 participating teams, as follows:

Champion: $50 million

Runner-up: $33 million

3rd Place: $29 million

4th Place: $27 million

5th-8th Place: $19 million

9th-16th Place: $15 million

17th-32nd Place: $11 million

33rd-48th Place: $9 million

In addition, each participating team will receive $1.5 million for preparation costs, meaning all participating member associations are guaranteed at least $10.5 million for next year's competition. Gianni Infantino stated, "The 2026 World Cup will also be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to global football."