Soccer teams from around the world are facing off in the North American summer heat in a bid to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup championship. And this year’s honeypot is the largest one yet, with the crowned victors set to take home eye-watering paychecks.
FIFA will distribute $871 million to the 48 teams competing in the 2026 World Cup—the largest payout in the competition’s history. It’s a 15% bump from the $727 million given out after the competition held in Qatar back in 2022, as this year’s event has a higher number of participating teams compared to the 32 squads in the past. The greater payout could also be in response to higher costs in commuting between the three host countries: the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
And there’s still a lot more money and perks on the table. Depending on where the teams rank by the end of the World Cup, they could earn an additional $9 million to $50 million in prize money. The summer showdown also comes with other perks, like health insurance and a replica of the original solid-gold trophy for the winners. Plus, there are ways for players to monetize their increased fame from the World Cup that could far exceed the value of the cash prize—from bigger sponsorships to contract upgrades.
