FIFA boosts World Cup payouts by US$100 million as federations flag rising costs

FIFA is releasing more than US$100 million in additional support to the federations heading to next year's World Cup, after several associations warned that being based in North America would cost them more than originally budgeted.

Meeting in Vancouver, one of the host cities for the tournament, the FIFA Council on Tuesday signed off on a US$2 million top-up to the basic payment owed to each qualifying federation, lifting the floor to US$12.5 million. The expanded 48-nation competition kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and FIFA expects to bring in at least US$11 billion from it.

A number of the 48 federations, particularly those from Europe, had pushed back on the prize structure and preparation allowances set last year, arguing that anything short of a deep knockout-round run would leave them out of pocket. Squads playing matches on US soil also have to navigate tax obligations that do not apply in the Canadian or Mexican legs of the competition.

Under the revised arrangement, the pre-tournament training and expense allowance climbs to US$2.5 million from US$1.5 million, while every federation also collects an extra US$1 million in guaranteed prize money, taking that floor to US$10 million.

$655M PRIZE MONEY

The overall prize pool of US$655 million, first revealed in December, still earmarks US$50 million for the winning nation. By comparison, Argentina banked US$42 million after lifting the trophy in Qatar in 2022, when the 32-team edition shared a total purse of US$440 million.

FIFA also confirmed an additional US$16 million in "subsidies for team delegation costs" and said federations would receive a larger ticket allotment for their matches.

World Cup regulations already commit FIFA to picking up business-class return airfare for each federation, along with accommodation and meals for a 50-member delegation. Hotel coverage begins five nights before a team's opening fixture and runs through to the night after elimination. The governing body also takes care of domestic transport for up to 50 delegation members and provides "a dedicated fleet of vehicles, including an equipment truck".

Federations remain on the hook for "adequate insurance ... including but not limited to injury, accident, disease and travel", as well as "incidental hotel costs" and the cost of housing any extra delegation members.

- AP