Goa, July 20 -- The winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will not only lift football's most prestigious trophy but will also receive a record-breaking financial reward. FIFA has announced that the tournament champions will earn $51 million, while the runners-up will take home $34 million as part of the governing body's expanded prize pool for the first-ever 48-team World Cup.

Overall, FIFA will distribute a record $871 million among all participating nations, significantly higher than previous editions. The governing body increased the prize fund by more than $100 million earlier this year after several football federations, particularly from Europe, sought additional financial support to offset the higher travel and accommodation costs as...