World Cup final: How much money does the winning team get?
Your guide to the 2026 World Cup final
Lionel Messi and Argentina will face a Spain squad that is unbeaten in 37 consecutive matches going back to early 2024. For Spain, the 2026 World Cup final is a chance at a second World Cup title to go along with the one from 2010. For Argentina, it’s a chance to become the first back-to-back men’s World Cup champion since Pele and Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. Here's a complete guide to Sunday's big matchup.
On Sunday, either Spain or Argentina will celebrate their World Cup final win with the hoisting of the coveted trophy and a championship ring for each player.
The winning team will also get a massive payout.
MORE: LIVE: FIFA World Cup Final - Spain vs Argentina
How much money does the winning team get?
By the numbers:
The World Cup winner earns $51 million. The other prizes are:
- Runner-up: $34 million
- Third place (England): $30 million
- Fourth place (France): $28 million
- Quarterfinalists (fifth to eighth): $20 million each
- Round of 16 (ninth to 16th): $16 million each
- Round of 32 (17th to 32nd): $12 million each
- Group stage (33rd-48th): $10 million each
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed at New York/New Jersey Stadium ahead of the FIFA World Cup Final on July 15, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jordan Bank - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The $51 million for either Argentina or Spain is a large sum, but it pales in comparison to the fortunes that are spent on global soccer. According to The Associated Press, the World Cup winning team will get less than the transfer fee paid last week by English club Brighton for a 19-year-old defender who spent most of the World Cup on the bench, Croatia's Luka Vušković.
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What other World Cup teams get paid
FIFA is paying a record-breaking $871 million to the 48 World Cup teams.
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The money is paid in two categories: Prize money bonuses based on how far each team advances in the tournament and across-the-board payments to cover training and preparation costs.vThe prize money goes up depending on how far the teams advance.
All 48 get at least $12.5 million for competing in the World Cup, including $10 million in prize money for qualifying and playing in the group stage. Each receives $2.5 million for pre-tournament training and expenses.
Do players get any prize money?
Dig deeper:
It depends. The prize money paid by FIFA goes to the federations, not the players, but how they distribute it is up to each federation.
U.S. soccer, for example, will keep 20% of the prize money. The remaining 80% that the U.S. men’s national soccer team receives will be split evenly between the men’s and women’s national teams following a 2022 milestone agreement to pay its men’s and women’s teams equally.
What else does FIFA pay for?
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In addition to the payout sums and under World Cup regulations, FIFA pays for business‑class return flights for each federation to travel to the tournament plus board and lodging for a 50-person delegation, which includes the players. The hotel payments start five nights before a team’s first game and one night after it is eliminated.
FIFA also covers the cost of domestic travel for up to 50 delegation members, and "a dedicated fleet of vehicles, including an equipment truck."
What do the World Cup teams pay for?
Each World Cup team pays for "adequate insurance ... including but not limited to injury, accident, disease and travel," plus "incidental hotel costs" and housing additional members of a delegation.
How to watch the FIFA World Cup Final
Spain vs Argentina
- 3:00 p.m. ET
- New York/New Jersey Stadium
- Network: FOX
Outside of watching FOX on live broadcast TV, there are several options audiences can choose from to enjoy the soccer matches.
One free option is through FIFA+ and select YouTube streams.
Other paid options include:
- FOX One
- FOX Sports 1
- Fubo
- YouTube TV
- FOX Sports app
- Hulu+ LiveTV
- Peacock (Spanish-language)
The Source: This article includes information from The Associated Press and previous FOX Local reporting.