The prize for profitable subsequent yr’s soccer World Cup in North America will enhance to $50m (£37m), FIFA has introduced.
Soccer’s international governing physique is boosting the general prize pot for the match by 50%, in comparison with Qatar in 2022 when the champions Argentina gained $42m.
Forty-eight groups will compete within the expanded match – hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico – and share $655m (£490m).
The 2026 World Cup might be an enormous money-spinner by way of promoting rights and ticket gross sales and is anticipated to earn FIFA no less than $10bn (£7.4bn) in income.
The announcement follows FIFA confirming a restricted variety of cheaper tickets might be out there for every sport after widespread criticism they have been grossly overpriced.
The prizes for the match are as follows:
Winners – $50mRunner-up – $33m3rd – $29m4th – $27m5th-Eighth – $19m9th-Sixteenth – $15m17th-Thirty second – $11m33rd-Forty eighth – $9m
All 48 groups can even get $1.5m to cowl “preparation costs”, in keeping with FIFA, that means a payout of no less than $10.5m (£7.8m) every.
Gianni Infantino, the top of FIFA mentioned the occasion can be “groundbreaking in its financial contribution to the global football community”.
Whereas $655m might be dished out in prize cash, FIFA mentioned a complete of $727m (£544m) can be “distributed” because of the match.
Nevertheless, it did not specify the place the opposite $72m will go.
The 2026 World Cup might be an enormous money-spinner by way of promoting rights and ticket gross sales and is anticipated to earn FIFA no less than $10bn (£7.4bn) in income.
FIFA had been urged to halt ticket gross sales lately after it emerged followers confronted paying “extortionate” costs for tickets, with the most cost effective for the ultimate priced over £3,000.
A “Supporter Entry Tier” was introduced this week, providing a restricted variety of $60 (£45) tickets for all video games, together with the ultimate.
Nevertheless, solely 10% of nationwide associations’ allotted tickets will fall beneath this class and it represents lower than one % of general capability for every match.
The FA is getting 4,022 tickets for England’s opening sport in opposition to Croatia, so simply 402 might be out there for £45.
It is as much as the nationwide associations to resolve easy methods to distribute them, with probably the most loyal followers prone to get precedence.
Soccer Supporters’ Affiliation chair, Tom Greatrex, mentioned: “The record prize fund demonstrates there is no shortage of money associated with the World Cup.
“Extra groups, greater stadia, higher variety of business companions – which all underlines that there is no such thing as a have to cost extortionate ticket costs to the supporters who deliver the vibrancy to the World Cup finals.
“Unless they reconsider the ticket pricing model, FIFA are in danger of undermining the spectacle of the finals by pricing out those who bring colour, atmosphere and emotion to games – ironically devaluing the ‘product’ to their commercial partners.”
