FIFA have earmarked a staggering £490million to be distributed as prize money for the upcoming World Cup next summer. The tournament is set to kick off in less than six months, with the draw already completed. While some qualification issues remain to be resolved, FIFA has confirmed the total prize money available for each participating nation. A whopping £490m has been set aside for this purpose.

This represents a 50 per cent increase from the amount offered at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Each team is guaranteed at least £1.1m to cover participation costs, while teams finishing between 33rd and 48th place will receive £6.7m. Teams ranking between 17th and 32nd can claim £8.2m, while those between ninth and 16th place will be awarded £11.2m. The amounts continue to rise incrementally up to the fourth-placed team, who will secure £20m, and the third-placed team will bank £21.7m.

The figures become even more astonishing when it comes to the two finalists. The runner-up will pocket around £24.7m, while the winners will walk away with £37.4m, along with the coveted trophy.

FIFA’s announcement regarding the tournament’s prize money comes amid severe criticism of their ticket pricing strategy. Fans have lambasted FIFA for exorbitant prices, with the cheapest ticket for the final expected to cost around £4,000.

This prompted the governing body to execute a significant U-turn, with approximately ten per cent of each nation’s ticket allocation slashed to roughly £45 per ticket.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed: “Fans of the national teams that have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026TM will benefit from a dedicated ticket pricing tier, which has been designed to make following their teams on football’s greatest stage more affordable.

“The newly introduced Supporter Entry Tier will be available at the fixed price of USD 60 per ticket for each of the 104 matches, including the final.

The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, with co-host Mexico facing South Africa in the opening fixture. England will begin their campaign several days later, with the Three Lions’ first match scheduled for June 17 in Arlington against Croatia.