The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has initially agreed to increase the value of prize money and participation bonuses for the 2026 World Cup, following pressures and concerns expressed by several national associations regarding the high costs of participating in the upcoming tournament.

The participating federations had warned that the high expenses related to travel, accommodation, and taxes, especially in the United States, might cause some teams to incur financial losses even if they achieve good results and advance in the tournament. FIFA had previously announced a record prize fund of $727 million, but this figure will see a further increase.

The decision also includes increasing the developmental support allocated to 211 member associations of FIFA, which was initially set to reach $2.7 billion during the current cycle. These allocations will be increased along with raising the fixed payments to national and continental associations.

The final approval of the details is expected during the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver this week, at a time when the federation asserts that it is in the strongest financial position in its history, with expected revenues of up to $13 billion during the current World Cup cycle, allowing for increased returns for the game globally.