The FIFA World Cup is not only a celebration of football, fans and sponsors. First of all, it is a lot of money that can go to football teams. Few people realize how much national teams earn during the World Cup. And the truth is that FIFA in 2026 has a record budget.
Already at the end of 2025, FIFA announced that the prize pool for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada will be USD 727 million. The 48 national teams that will take part in the tournament will receive “only” USD 655 million.
World Cup 2026. Such money was lost on the Polish team
As a reminder: the Polish national team, led by Jan Urban, did not qualify for the final games of the World Championships in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The loss to Sweden in the final of the 2026 World Cup play-offs at the end of March ruined the team members' chance to earn solid wages.
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As Polsat News explains, the Polish national team could receive $10.5 million. for participating in the World Cup. As much as USD 9 million. was a reward for winning a place among the 48 World Cup teams, and another PLN 1.5 million was a bonus for preparations for the tournament.
And although this amount (up to 40 percent of which could have gone directly to the players) seems to be significant, serious money only appears during the World Cup.
World Cup 2026. Millions of dollars even for being eliminated in the group stage
The new format of the tournament, which now involves as many as 48 national teams, means not only more matches, but also more money for the teams. During the FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, there will be a significant increase in the money that will go to national teams. Compared to the previous world championship in Qatar in 2022, the prize pool will increase by 50%.
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As explained by Beinsports.com, the highest earnings at the World Cup will, of course, be earned by the world champion – as much as USD 50 million, i.e. USD 8 million. more than Argentina for its triumph in Qatar in 2022. The runner-up will receive USD 33 million, and the third-placed team will receive USD 29 million. The team that takes fourth place will receive $27 million.
Importantly, even teams that are eliminated in the group stage can count on solid financial support. National teams in places:
- from the fifth to the eighth will collect $19 million.
- from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. they will collect $15 million.
- from 5 p.m. to 32 p.m. they will collect $11 million.
- from 33 to 48 will receive $9 million.
Such large prizes can influence the development of football in countries that have not had a chance for great success so far. A larger number of participants also means greater interest from fans and sponsors.
