Sh6.4billion windfall for 2026 World Cup Champions
By Gilbert Ian
The winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will pocket a record Sh6.4 billion after FIFA approved a significantly enhanced prize structure for the expanded tournament. The decision was announced this week following a FIFA Council meeting held ahead of the Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar.
The 2026 tournament, scheduled for June and July, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the first time the World Cup will be staged across three countries. It will also be the largest edition in history, featuring 48 teams, up from the traditional 32.
FIFA has set aside a total prize pool of $655 million (about Sh84.5 billion), representing a 50 per cent increase from the previous World Cup. Under the new structure, the runners-up will earn Sh4.3 billion, while the third-placed team will take home Sh3.7 billion. The team finishing fourth will receive Sh3.5 billion.
Teams placed fifth to eighth will each earn Sh2.5 billion, while those finishing ninth to sixteenth will get Sh1.9 billion apiece. Teams ranked seventeenth to thirty-second will receive Sh1.4 billion, with the remaining teams positions 33 to 48, each earning Sh1.1 billion.
In addition, every participating nation will receive $1.5 million (about Sh193.4 million) in preparation funds, guaranteeing a minimum payout of $10.5 million (Sh1.4 billion) per team.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the 2026 World Cup would be “groundbreaking” financially, noting that increased revenues would strengthen global football development.
The Council also approved a new U-15 festival-style tournament for boys and girls involving all 211 member associations, alongside a post-conflict recovery fund aimed at supporting football in regions affected by war.
