Group Stage To Champions: What Every Team Actually Earned At World Cup 2026

FIFA distributed a total prize pool of 871 million dollars (₹8,397.3 crore) at the 2026 World Cup, compared with 440 million dollars (₹4,242 crore) at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, an increase of roughly 65 percent. The rise reflects both the expanded 48-team format and a late top-up of more than 100 million dollars (₹964 crore) added in April after some European federations lobbied for help covering the travel and lodging costs of a tournament spread across three host countries. (File)

Every one of the 48 qualified teams was guaranteed at least 12.5 million dollars (₹120.5 crore) regardless of results, made up of a 10 million dollar (₹96.4 crore) qualification fee and 2.5 million dollars (₹24.1 crore) in preparation funding. No federation left the tournament empty-handed. (Reuters Photo)

Teams knocked out at the group stage earned an additional 10 million dollars (₹96.4 crore) in performance money on top of their guaranteed base, taking their total earnings to around 22.5 million dollars (₹216.9 crore) even without a single win in the knockout rounds. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Teams eliminated in the Round of 16 earned around 16 million dollars (₹154.3 crore) in performance money, and all three co-hosts fell at this stage, with Canada losing to Morocco, Mexico falling to England and the United States going out to Belgium. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Quarterfinalists collected around 20 million dollars (₹192.8 crore) in performance money before their guaranteed base was added. (AFP)

France reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champions Spain, then lost the third-place playoff to England despite Kylian Mbappe scoring twice in that match, and finished the tournament with the fourth-place prize of around 28 million dollars (₹269.9 crore). (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

England beat France in the third-place playoff behind a Bukayo Saka hat-trick, with Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa and Jude Bellingham also on target, securing the bronze medal and a third-place prize of around 30 million dollars (₹289.2 crore). (Picture Credit: AFP)

Argentina reached a second straight final but lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time, a result that extended the wait for a country to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil managed it in 1958 and 1962, and their runner-up finish was worth around 34 million dollars (₹327.8 crore). (Picture Credit: AP)

Spain won the final 1-0 after extra time, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the winner in the 106th minute off a Nico Williams assist, giving La Roja their second World Cup title after 2010. Their performance-based prize of 51 million dollars (₹491.7 crore) was the largest single World Cup payout in history, and once the guaranteed base is added, their total earnings from the tournament crossed 63 million dollars (₹607.5 crore).(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)