FIFA is negotiating to increase prize money for all 48 teams at the 2026 World Cup, with a decision expected at a FIFA Council meeting ahead of the Vancouver Congress.

The 2026 prize money already approved in December totals a record 727 million dollars for the 48 finalists, including 50 million for the champions, with concerns about costs and tax guarantees.

The proposed increases would apply to all qualified teams and would add enhanced development funding to all 211 member associations through the FIFA Forward programme.

FIFA projects over $11 billion in revenue from the tournament, running from June 11 to July 19, underpinning the push for bigger distributions and development funding.

Host-city planning has already felt the impact with cancellations and scaling back of Fan Fest events and other activities in several U.S. venues.

There is ongoing scrutiny of ticket pricing and affordability ahead of the tournament, with coverage noting concerns from outlets like ESPN and The Athletic.

FIFA has introduced a limited 'Supporter Entry Tier' to lower some ticket prices, though options remain restricted.

UEFA had lobbied for a larger prize pool and greater federation funding due to the high costs of the US-hosted finals, travel, operations, and taxes.

European associations warned that high costs in the United States could affect revenue, prompting FIFA to engage globally to reassure and support member associations.

The 2026 prize structure includes $50 million for the champions, $33 million for runners-up, and $9 million for each of the 16 teams eliminated in the group stage, with $1.5 million per qualified nation for preparation costs as part of an initial $655 million funding package.

There have been budget reductions within FIFA’s operations, including cuts of over $100 million from the World Cup operating budget, raising concerns about impact on fans and host cities in the U.S.

All of these financial discussions are framed within the broader goal of ensuring the World Cup’s profitability benefits the global football community.