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How much will FIFA World Cup winners get?
Data Researcher/Curator
WASHINGTON —
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features a record $727 million prize pool, with more teams than ever competing for the title.
This year’s tournament is the largest, with 48 teams competing to advance to the championship.
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The Get the Facts Data Team compiled how much World Cup champions, runners-up and third-place teams will earn this year and how the amounts compare to prize money over the past two decades.
How much will the champions get?
This year’s winning team will take home $50 million, the highest prize money ever awarded to a World Cup winner.
Argentina received $42 million for winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Adjusted for inflation, that prize would be worth about $47.4 million today.
France earned $38 million for winning the 2018 World Cup after defeating Croatia in the final. That’s worth about $50.5 million today, slightly more than this year’s top prize.
The 2006 World Cup prize money was awarded in Swiss francs. Italy received 25.5 million CHF for winning the tournament. The data team converted that amount to U.S. dollars, which was worth $19.8 million at the time.
How much do runners-up make?
The second-place team in this tournament will take home $33 million, $3 million more than what France earned for placing second in the 2022 World Cup.
Croatia was awarded $28 million for finishing in second place in the 2018 World Cup. That $28 million would be $37.2 million in today’s dollars.
How much will third place win?
The third-place team will receive $4 million less than the runner-up team. The third-place prize money has increased by $2 million in past tournaments since 2006.
Of the 48 teams competing in the group stages, 16 nations have already exited the tournament, winning $9 million. Those eliminated in the round of 32 will receive $11 million.
