The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is planning to boost the financial rewards for national teams competing in the 2026 World Cup, as reported by The Guardian.
This move comes as a direct response to pressure from national associations, who voiced concerns that the costs associated with tournament preparation were proving excessive. Back in December 2025, the FIFA Council had rubber-stamped a record prize pool amounting to \$727 million. Based on this figure, every one of the 48 participating nations was guaranteed a minimum payout of \$10.5 million.
Nevertheless, representatives from several federations pointed out that the steep costs related to air travel, accommodations, and local taxation within the host nations—the USA, Canada, and Mexico—threatened to wipe out any earnings, regardless of how well a team performed.
Consequently, at the FIFA council meeting set for April 28th in Vancouver, additional funding is expected to be formalized. The organization has affirmed ongoing discussions with member associations aimed at increasing revenues. This involves considerations for both direct payments to the tournament participants and an expansion of development programs available to all 211 national federations.
The 2026 World Cup will mark the first time the event is hosted across three countries—the USA, Canada, and Mexico—and will also be the first iteration expanded to include 48 teams. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 11th to July 19th. The Russian national team will not be participating.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement refuting rumors suggesting Washington had pressured Iran to withdraw from participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Organizers of the 2026 World Cup are grappling with substantial political and bureaucratic hurdles. Strict US visa mandates, including a \$15,000 bond requirement for citizens of certain countries, alongside Iran’s declaration to boycott the tournament, cast doubt on the principle of unrestricted participation in the world’s premier football event.
Sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev identified an unexpected favorite for the 2026 World Cup. In his view, the tournament’s biggest star will be the President of the United States, Donald Trump, due to his potential to pull off entirely unpredictable actions during the competition.
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