FIFA Raises World Cup Prize Money — While Fans Pay Through the Nose to Get In

FIFA is handing out more money at the 2026 World Cup. Just not to the fans buying the tickets.

The governing body confirmed it is raising the prize pool — with proposals set to be approved at the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver on April 28. The winning nation currently stands to collect $50 million, with every participating federation guaranteed a minimum of $10.5 million. With FIFA projecting revenues of over $11 billion from the tournament, the federations wanted their cut increased — and they’re getting it.

Fans are getting something different. Dynamic pricing, legal secondary market resale, and in some cases train fares to MetLife Stadium exceeding $100 for a short trip. Former Liverpool CEO Peter Moore called the ticketing situation “dystopian.”

The players’ federation gets richer. The supporter planning a trip to the US this summer faces a very different calculation.