The 2026 FIFA World Cup will see teams receive the biggest payout in the tournament’s history, with FIFA confirming a record $871 million prize pool for the 48 participating teams.

The financial structure guarantees earnings for all participating nations and steep rewards that increase payouts at every stage of the tournament.

The total prize pool FIFA has set for the 2026 tournament has been increased by 50% from the last tournament held in Qatar 2022.

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 will also be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community,” said  FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the announcement.

How Much World Cup Teams Will Earn at Group Stages and Knockout

Every team participating in the 2026 World Cup will receive $12.5 million, including a $10 million qualification into the tournament and an additional $2.5 million preparation grant at the group stage.

The structure ensures that even nations eliminated at the group stage level will still walk away with substantial earnings.

A team that qualifies for the knockout stage still earns according to the level, even if it’s eliminated, as illustrated below:

Stage Amount (USD) Amount (KSh)
Group stage participation $10 million KSh 1.295 billion
Round of 32 $11 million KSh 1.425 billion
Round of 16 $15 million KSh 1.943 billion
Quarter-finals $19 million KSh 2.461 billion
Fourth place stage equivalent $27 million KSh 3.497 billion
Runner-up bonus $33 million KSh 4.274 billion
Guaranteed pre-tournament payment $12.5 million KSh 1.619 billion

How Much Finalists Will Earn

A team that reaches the World Cup final but finishes as runners-up accumulates earnings across stages they have participated.

Starting with the guaranteed $12.5 million, the team would add performance bonuses from each round.

Position Prize Money (USD) Prize Money (KSh)
33rd to 48th place $9 million KSh 1.166 billion
17th to 32nd place $11 million KSh 1.425 billion
9th to 16th place $15 million KSh 1.943 billion
5th to 8th place $19 million KSh 2.461 billion
Fourth place $27 million KSh 3.497 billion
Third place $29 million KSh 3.756 billion
Runners-up $33 million KSh 4.274 billion
Champion $50 million KSh 6.475 billion

The runner-up team’s total earnings will be $129.5 million.

For the tournament champions, the winner is guaranteed $50 million bonus, and the cumulative stage earnings totaling $146.5 million per team.

How Teams Will Progress Out of the Group Stages in New Format

Since the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the tournament’s group stage format has featured 32 teams split into eight groups of 4, resulting in 64 matches and a straightforward pathway to the Round of 16.

Instead of 16 teams advancing like in earlier tournaments, 32 will advance from the group stage in the 2026 World Cup.

The increase in teams will introduce a new knockout round (a Round of 32 stage) that begins after the group stages.  

After the group stage, the tournament will enter a new round: the Round of 32, which is the first time ever in World Cup history.

Knockout rounds will now have 5 stages instead of the previous 4:

  • Round of 32 (new)
  • Round of 16
  • Quarterfinals
  • Semi-finals
  • Final

In the third week of the competition, 44 matches have been played with 118 goals scored at the group-stage fixtures.

A total of 6 teams have officially qualified for the Round of 32, including Mexico, United States, Germany, Argentina, France, and Norway.

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2026 FIFA World Cup Prize Money: What Every Team Will Receive
Morocco Captain Achraf Hakimi Celebrating a Goal During a Previous Game
PHOTO | Achraf Hakimi | X