The FIFA Council has adopted new measures aimed at strengthening the financial security of teams and regions affected by conflict, with the creation of a post-conflict reconstruction fund, subject to strict supervision and open to external contributions. In parallel, as reported by FIFA on its official website, FIFA approved an unprecedented economic incentive system for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico, in which participating teams will receive significantly higher prizes compared to previous editions.
According to the communication published by the FIFA Council, the 2026 edition will represent a milestone in the distribution of funds. A total of 727 million dollars (around 619 million euros) will be distributed to the teams, the highest amount in the history of the tournament, the media reports. The winner of the competition will receive $50 million (42.5 million euros), exceeding the amounts awarded in Qatar 2022. The second place winner will receive $33 million (28 million euros) and the third place winner will receive $29 million (24.7 million euros). Each team that qualifies will have at least $1.5 million (1.27 million euros) available for preparation costs.
FIFA’s institutional media reported that the main component of this purse, 655 million dollars (more than 557 million euros), will be distributed directly to the 48 teams that will take part in the tournament, an expansion that is being considered after the change of format regarding the 32 teams that took part in Qatar 2022. This change implies for each association a guaranteed minimum of 10.5 million dollars (almost 9 million euros) just for their presence in the final stages, according to FIFA’s statement.
According to the words of Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, broadcast through the organization’s official channels, the next edition of the World Cup will not only break records in terms of financial resources, but also “be a pioneer in terms of its financial contribution to the global football community.” The declaration comes as part of a strategy aimed at increasing the scale and economic forecast of the largest international tournament.
At the FIFA Council meeting in Doha before the World Cup final, the institution also considered further decisions. This includes the introduction of the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Fund, which aims to provide financial support to areas and communities that are in situations of war or serious humanitarian crises. This initiative, as FIFA explains in its statement, will serve as a complement to the Forward program and may receive contributions from various organizations.
As FIFA recalled, Gianni Infantino had already expected the creation of this fund during the peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. With the formal approval, the Agency is now strengthening its measures to support development and reconstruction in vulnerable areas and introducing specific monitoring and resource allocation mechanisms.
The FIFA Council has also made official the distribution of places for the various confederations in the upcoming Olympic football tournaments. For the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, women’s soccer will be expanded to 16 teams. According to the organization’s announcement, UEFA will have four places, CONCACAF will have three, plus the quota reserved for the host country, Asia and CONMEBOL will each have two and a half places, Africa will have two places and Oceania will have one. In the men’s competition, which continues to feature 12 teams, Europe will have three places, Asia, Africa and CONMEBOL two each, Oceania and CONCACAF one place each, plus the host place.
According to its institutional portal, FIFA confirmed the opening date of the Women’s Club World Cup, scheduled between January 5 and 30, 2028, in line with the institutional commitment to expand and diversify the structure of club competitions at international level. These modifications bring significant changes in the global presence of national teams and clubs as well as in access to economic and sporting incentives.
The increase in the allocation of funds and the reconfiguration of the awards system reflect the Governing Body’s intention to strengthen the financial sustainability of the national associations, in a context characterized by the increase in the number of participants and the need to support regions in emergency situations. The robust distribution of funds and the creation of solidarity mechanisms are part of a broader strategy that, according to the official FIFA report, aims to diversify the impact of major football events and ensure a direct impact on the development and recovery of communities linked to the sport.
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