FIFA Adds $100M to Cover World Cup Team Costs

Zurich: FIFA has approved more than $100 million in additional funding to support national teams competing in the 2026 World Cup, citing rising costs associated with hosting the tournament in North America.

The decision was finalized during a FIFA Council meeting, where officials agreed to increase payments to all participating federations in response to concerns about expenses in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Increased Payments for Teams

Each of the 48 participating federations will now receive a minimum of $12.5 million, following a $2 million increase in base payments. Additionally, the standard prize money allocation has been raised by $1 million, bringing the guaranteed amount to $10 million per team.

Support for pre-tournament preparation has also been boosted, with funding rising from $1.5 million to $2.5 million per federation.

Addressing Rising Costs

The financial adjustments come after several federations, particularly from Europe, warned that the original payment structure could result in losses unless teams progressed deep into the knockout stages.

Teams playing matches in the United States are also expected to face tax obligations, unlike those competing in Canada and Mexico, further increasing operational costs.

Total Prize Pool and Additional Support

The total prize pool for the tournament remains at $655 million, with the eventual champion set to earn $50 million. This marks a significant increase compared to the $440 million prize fund for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina earned $42 million for winning the title.

FIFA will also allocate an additional $16 million to help cover delegation expenses and will provide more match tickets to participating teams.

Travel and Logistics Covered

Under existing regulations, FIFA will continue to cover major logistical costs for teams, including business-class flights, accommodation, and domestic travel for delegations of up to 50 members.

Hotel expenses will be covered starting five days before a team’s first match and until one day after elimination. Teams will also be provided with dedicated transportation, including equipment trucks.

However, federations remain responsible for insurance coverage, incidental hotel expenses, and costs for additional personnel beyond the official delegation.

The 2026 World Cup, set to begin on June 11, is expected to generate at least $11 billion in revenue, making it the most commercially significant tournament in FIFA’s history.