The FIFA World Cup 2026 has become the biggest tournament in the competition’s history, with more teams, more matches, and a record-breaking prize pool. The expanded format has also pushed the tournament’s total revenue and prize money to an all-time high.
According to media reports, the total prize money for this year’s tournament is 50% higher than that of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The winners of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will receive $50 million, while the runners-up will be awarded $33 million.
The total prize pool for the tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has been set at a record $655 million.
In the third-place playoff, England defeated France 6-4 to finish third and will receive $29 million in prize money. France, which finished fourth, will receive $27 million.
It is worth mentioning here that US President Donald Trump will be in the spotlight at the FIFA World Cup on Sunday in New Jersey, as he will be presenting the World Cup trophy alongside his close friend and FIFA president Gianni Infantino after the Spain v Argentina match. Trump has been intimately involved in the tournament, but will make his first World Cup match appearance at the final.
He caused controversy earlier this month when he reportedly asked Infantino to rescind a red card that had been handed out to forward Folarin Balogun in a game against Belgium so he could play in the last-16 match-up. The request received criticism due to worries regarding political control of sport.
But, despite the blowback, Trump has been effusive in his praise of the tournament as “the most successful sporting event” ever and said that it has helped bolster soccer’s popularity in the United States.
Read more: World Cup final puts Trump in the global spotlight
