The 2026 World Cup is set to be the biggest iteration of the tournament in history, with more nations, more games, and more prize money on the table.

The United States of America, Canada, and Mexico play host to football’s grandest stage of them all, as 48 teams battle it out for one big prize.

While putting together a dream run to lift the trophy is the aim of all teams at the World Cup, there will also be plenty of money they can land to help fund their respective football associations.

So, with that said, here’s a breakdown of the prize money available at the 2026 World Cup and more.

World Cup 2026 Prize Money

There will be an increased prize pool available to nations in this summer’s edition of the World Cup, with $655 million (£487.8 million) worth of it coming from performance-based payments.

Teams could earn as little as $9 million (£6.7 million) for a group stage exit, while the champions will earn $50 million (£37.2 million) for winning the tournament.

There is also a participation fee, worth $2.5 million (£1.9 million), and a qualification bonus worth $10 million (£7.4 million) simply for reaching the World Cup. In total, that takes the participation money pool up to $871 million.

How World Cup Prize Money Compares to Other Competitions

The $655 million (£487.8 million) on offer from FIFA for the World Cup is a huge amount, but it may be viewed as small in comparison to some of the money on offer in some club cup competitions.

The Champions League remains one of the most profitable competitions out there, with UEFA putting forward a £3.8 billion prize pot for those competing from the league phase onward. Each team gets £16.1 million for simply competing in the league phase, more than those who reach the quarter-final of the World Cup.

In comparison, the Club World Cup last summer had a $1 billion (£744.5 million) prize pot on offer for teams competing in America over the campaign.

The Premier League is seen as the richest domestic league in Europe, committing over £2 million per place in the league, rising incrementally. Arsenal landed over £50 million on their own for winning the division in 2025/26, without then including the TV revenues and more that come from being in the division.

World Cup 2026 Prize Money vs World Cup 2022 Prize Money

The 2026 World Cup boasts a much larger pool of money available compared to 2022 – $655 million (£487.8 million) this time around compared to $440 million (£327.7 million) four years previously.

World Cup 2022 Prize Money Breakdown:

The most notable gains in the new format come later in the competition, with an increased prize pool for the knockout stage onward.

How Men’s World Cup Prize Money Compares to Women’s World Cup

The 2023 Women’s World Cup had a prize pool of $110 million (£81.8 million), which was an increase from $30 million (£22.3 million) in the prior tournament.

There is still a $545 million (£405.7 million) gulf between that and the upcoming men’s World Cup, with there being some hope that the 2027 Women’s World Cup could increase funding further.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo looks set to leave the club after their relegation, and two candidates to replace him have now been named.

The Hammers’ relegation was confirmed on Sunday after Tottenham secured a 1-0 victory over Everton.

West Ham managed a 3-0 victory over Leeds on the final day, but it wasn’t enough as they finished two points behind Spurs.

The pressure is now mounting on Nuno, and it remains to be seen whether he is going to be in the job heading into the 2026/2027 season.

There’s a chance the manager could walk before he’s pushed, but either way it looks as though he’ll be leaving the club in the coming weeks.

Two Candidates to Replace Nuno at West Ham

According to journalist Jacob Steinberg, Nuno is expected to leave West Ham following their relegation from the Premier League.

The reliable journalist confirms that former Burnley manager Scott Parker and Strasbourg boss Gary O’Neil are two candidates to replace him.

The report claims that Nuno has been called in for talks around his future, which is likely to end in the Portuguese manager leaving the club.

O’Neil and Parker, who have both played for the club previously, are two managers of interest to the West Ham board as they assess their options heading into the summer.

Problems Run Deeper at West Ham

West Ham are now looking for their fifth manager in just two years if Nuno does leave the club in the coming days or weeks, which is expected.

That shows that the problems, perhaps, run deeper than the manager, and they need to solve things behind the scenes if they want to move forward in the right direction.

Now relegation has been confirmed, work needs to happen behind the scenes for them to turn things around as quickly as possible.

Their recruitment simply hasn’t been good enough, and the upcoming transfer window is a real opportunity for them to rebuild and reset.

Liverpool have opened talks to sign a new German star ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

It could be a busy summer window for the Merseyside club after a disappointing season, which saw them finish fifth in the Premier League.

The Reds qualified for the Champions League, but after winning the title last season, the campaign has to be considered a disappointment as they failed to compete in the race alongside Arsenal and Man City.

Liverpool were busy in the previous summer transfer window, bringing in a host of new additions, but some of them have failed to hit the ground running.

As a result, they need to ensure they are smarter with their recruitment, as they can’t afford another season not competing for the Premier League.

Liverpool Open Transfer Talks

According to a report from Sky Sports reporter Plettenberg, Liverpool have opened talks to sign Kennet Eichhorn ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 16-year-old wonderkid, described as a ‘special’ talent by scout Jacek Kulig, is planning to leave Hertha Berlin in the summer transfer window, and he could move for a fee in the region of £10m due to a release clause.

Despite his age, Eichhorn featured 17 times for Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga’s second tier this season.

Patience Required With Eichhorn

There is no doubt that Liverpool fans and the club will have to be patient if they bring a player like Eichhorn to Anfield in the summer transfer window.

The 16-year-old hasn’t been a guaranteed starter for Hertha Berlin in the second tier of Germany, so there is little chance that he can make the step up to the Premier League instantly.

The German youngster is undoubtedly a huge talent with a bright future ahead, but that doesn’t mean Liverpool needs to rush into things with him if they do secure his signature.

​​​​​​​Taking their time and allowing him to develop, even potentially sending him out on loan, is exactly what he needs in order to fulfill his potential.