New Delhi: FIFA is exploring the possibility of increasing prize money for all 48 competing teams at the World Cup after requests from European teams for assistance with costs during the quadrennial event to be staged in USA, Canada and Mexico from June 11.
The proposal is expected to be approved at FIFA council meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday before the 76th Congress on April 30.
FIFA had earlier announced a record $727 million financial contribution, up from the $655 million in the previous edition.
The World Cup winning team were set to take home $50 million and the runners-up $33 million earlier, with each team guaranteed to receive at least $10.5 million.
But with FIFA projected for revenue of over $11 billion and after European football’s governing body UEFA communicated concerns of its members associations, the global body has decided to engage in talsk for a resolution of the issue.
“FIFA can confirm it is in discussions with associations around the world to increase available revenues,” said a FIFA spokesperson.
“This includes a proposed increase of financial contributions to all qualified teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and of development funding available to all 211 member associations.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be groundbreaking in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community and FIFA is proud to be in its strongest ever financial position to benefit the global game through its FIFA Forward programme.”
After a successful hosting of the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup held in the United States last year, FIFA said it received 93% of its total budgeted revenue by the end of 2025.
But FIFA reduced over $100 million from its budget for World Cup operating departments, in the midst of scaled down budgets for most American host cities save Houston and Philadelphia.