FIFA Aims to Boost 2026 World Cup Prize Money

FIFA is in talks with national associations to raise prize money for the 48 teams in the 2026 World Cup, the global soccer governing body announced on Sunday.

The plan awaits approval at Tuesday's FIFA Council meeting preceding the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver. Last December, FIFA revealed that the prize money for this year's World Cup would rise by 50%, reaching $655 million, after agreeing to a record $727 million financial contribution.

FIFA confirmed to Reuters that discussions are in progress to increase available revenues as projections suggest surpassing $11 billion in revenue from 2023 to 2026. A FIFA spokesperson emphasized that additional financial contributions would be extended to all qualifying teams and member associations through the FIFA Forward programme, marking the 2026 tournament as a financial milestone for global soccer.

(With inputs from agencies.)