London, England – Press reports have revealed that FIFA is considering increasing the prize money for the 2026 World Cup. This comes amid pressure related to rising taxes and the costs of organizing the tournament in the United States.
The next World Cup is scheduled to be held in the United States, with Canada and Mexico also participating. This will be the first edition to feature 48 teams.
FIFA announced last December a record prize pool of $727 million. Each participating team will receive a minimum of $10.5 million, while the tournament champion will receive $50 million.
According to The Guardian, FIFA has tentatively agreed to increase prize money and entry fees. However, final details will be approved at the upcoming FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver.
The newspaper noted that this move came in response to concerns raised by several national federations that warned of rising travel, accommodation, and operational costs, in addition to the tax burden in the United States. This could expose some teams to financial losses even if they reach the advanced stages of the tournament.
The report added that FIFA had held extensive consultations with a number of federations in recent weeks before moving towards increasing prize money to offset those burdens.
The next World Cup is expected to witness a historic Arab participation with eight teams: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Iraq, Tunisia, and Qatar. This is a first of its kind.
