Attention is turning to anticipated decisions from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), amid moves to increase the financial value of the 2026 World Cup rewards to keep pace with the economic challenges in the host countries.

Press reports have revealed that FIFA is considering increasing the financial prizes allocated to the teams participating in the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, to cope with rising operational costs and taxes.

In December last year, FIFA announced an unprecedented total budget of $727 million, with each participating team receiving a minimum of $10.5 million, including $1.5 million earmarked for covering preparation costs, while the World Champion prize reaches $50 million.

According to the British newspaper 'The Guardian,' the FIFA Council has initially agreed to an additional increase in prize values and participation fees, in response to concerns from national federations about rising travel and accommodation costs in North America.

The final details of this increase are expected to be finalized during the upcoming FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver, in a move aimed at alleviating the financial burdens on the participating teams.

The 2026 World Cup edition represents a historic milestone, as it will feature the participation of 48 teams for the first time in the tournament's history, reflecting an unprecedented expansion in the level of competition.

The tournament will also witness significant Arab presence with the qualification of 8 teams: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, and Qatar, indicating a clear development in Arab football, especially following the historic achievement of the Moroccan team in the previous edition, alongside the increased number of slots allocated to the African and Asian continents.