The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled from June 11 to July 19 across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, is set to feature a massive increase in prize money. With the tournament expanding from 32 to 48 teams, FIFA has allocated a record prize pool of over 6,000 crore INR, marking a 49 percent increase compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Even the teams eliminated in the very first group stage will walk away with a substantial payout of 77 crore INR.

Under the new prize distribution, the tournament champion will receive approximately 430 crore INR, while the runner-up will get 284 crore INR. Third and fourth-place teams will receive 249 crore INR and 232 crore INR respectively. Teams finishing between fifth and eighth will secure 163 crore INR each, and those exiting in the second round will receive 95 crore INR. Additionally, FIFA has already distributed 21 crore INR to each of the 48 participating nations to assist with preparation costs, while football clubs will also receive increased compensation for releasing their players.

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While FIFA expects massive revenue from ticket sales, advertisements, and broadcasting, the television rights for major markets like India are still being finalized. Although Brazil’s CazéTV will stream the matches for free within Brazil, Indian fans will not be able to access this stream. Reports suggest that Zee Group is currently in advanced talks to secure the Indian broadcasting rights for an estimated 30 to 35 million USD, following the withdrawal of the Reliance-Disney alliance from the bidding process due to high costs.